New Delhi, 17 August (H.S.): The Rouse Avenue Court has rejected the bail plea of Dr Vinod Kumar Ranga, an accused in the Delhi medicine scam case. Special Judge Vidya Prakash summoned the investigating officer to clarify certain questions concerning the bail plea of another accused in the case, Dr Vatsala Aggarwal, former Director General of Health Services, Delhi. The court directed that the order on Dr Vatsala Aggarwal’s bail plea be pronounced tomorrow, August 18.

Both accused were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). 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 remand order. Gupta argued that Aggarwal had been made a scapegoat to protect certain senior officials. He further submitted that nothing had been recovered from her residence.

Advocate Vijay Bishnoi, appearing for accused Dr Vinod Kumar Ranga, submitted that the petitioner had been in custody for 54 days. He argued that if the investigating agency required additional time to complete the investigation, the petitioner should be granted interim bail. However, the court observed that it was not inclined to release the petitioner on interim bail.

In this 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 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