Ex-DGHS Official Arrested Over Alleged Tender Manipulation in Multi-Crore Procurement Case

The Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has arrested former Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Vatsala Aggarwal in connection with an alleged multi-crore procurement scam involving medicines, surgical consumables and medical equipment.

Her arrest comes days after the ACB apprehended Dr Vijay Kumar Ranga , who was remanded to four days of police custody. The case relates to alleged financial irregularities in procurements worth several hundred crores by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) under the DGHS.

According to the ACB, the probe began after the Directorate of Vigilance flagged suspicious transactions and procedural violations. Investigators allege that items such as portable X-ray machines, C-arm radiological equipment, anaesthesia workstations, oral rehydration solution (ORS), medicines, surgical consumables, bed sheets and linen were procured at inflated prices through manipulated tenders.

The agency further alleged that tender specifications were tailored to favour select suppliers, excluding genuine bidders and causing losses to the public exchequer amounting to hundreds of crores.

A case was registered on June 2 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to criminal conspiracy. Procurement records and tender documents are being scrutinised as part of the investigation.

Aggarwal was removed as DGHS on May 21 , transferred to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital , and later suspended to facilitate disciplinary proceedings. The Delhi government has also suspended five pharmacists and two CPA officials after an internal inquiry reportedly found serious irregularities in the procurement, storage and management of medicines.

The ACB said further investigations are underway to determine the role of other officials and private suppliers in the alleged scam.