New Delhi, September 15 (H.S.): The Rouse Avenue Court has refused to extend the four-week interim bail granted to Dr Vatsala Aggarwal, an accused in the Delhi medicine procurement scam and former Director General of Health Services, Delhi. Special Judge Vidya Prakash said that the medicines prescribed to the accused could also be made available to her in jail.

The court said that upon completion of the four-week interim bail period granted on August 18, the accused would have to surrender before the jail authorities. On August 18, the court had granted her interim bail on the condition of furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties of the same amount.

Earlier, 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. They have been accused of irregularities amounting to around Rs 700 crore in the procurement of medicines and medical equipment.

During the hearing, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, appearing for Dr Vatsala Aggarwal, submitted that she had been in custody for the past 40 days. He said the petitioner was suffering from health-related problems, which had also been mentioned in the custody order. Ramesh Gupta further argued that Aggarwal had been made a scapegoat to shield certain senior officials. He also submitted that nothing had been recovered from her residence.

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

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar