New Delhi, 21 August (H.S.):

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea filed by Rajeev Rangila, an accused in the Delhi medicine procurement scam. Special Judge Vidya Prakash directed that the order on the anticipatory bail application would be pronounced on August 25.

During the hearing, Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) counsel Kumar Sanjay opposed the anticipatory bail plea, arguing that the accused was required for further investigation and that a non-bailable warrant had already been issued against him. He said the process required to declare him a proclaimed offender was still pending.

The ACB counsel alleged that Rangila had supplied goods at inflated prices. He also submitted that Rangila did not manufacture medical equipment, which was a precondition for participating in the tender. According to the ACB, Rangila had transferred money to his relatives through around 100 bank accounts.

Earlier, on August 18, the court granted four weeks of interim bail to Dr. Vatsala Aggarwal, former Director General of Health Services, Delhi. On August 17, the court had rejected the bail plea of another accused in the case, Dr. Vinod Kumar Ranga. Both accused were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch in connection with alleged irregularities amounting to around Rs 700 crore in the procurement of medicines and medical equipment.

The Anti-Corruption Branch had registered an FIR in the case on June 2 following a complaint filed by the Directorate of Vigilance. The FIR alleges financial irregularities amounting to around Rs 700 crore in the procurement of medicines, surgical supplies and medical equipment. According to the FIR, the alleged irregularities were carried out through the Directorate General of Health Services, Delhi, and the Central Procurement Agency of the Delhi Government.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar