New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) In a fresh crackdown against corruption, the Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Sunday arrested two former Health department officials in a case related to alleged large-scale irregularities in procurement of medicines, surgical consumables and medical equipment.

The ACB arrested Vatsala Aggarwal, the then Director General Health Services (DGHS), and Neeraj Chopra, Deputy Controller of Accounts (DCA) of DGHS’ Central Procurement Agency (CPA), in an FIR, an official statement said.

The allegations pertain to procurement of portable X-ray machines, bed sheets and linen items, C-arm radiological equipment, anaesthesia work stations, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), surgical consumables, medicines and other medical items at allegedly inflated rates through manipulated procurement processes, it added.

It was alleged that tailor-made specifications were framed to favour selected suppliers, genuine competitors were excluded from the bidding process and government funds amounting to several hundred crores of rupees were misutilised, a complaint received from the Delhi government said.

The complaint from the Directorate of Vigilance mentioned alleged large-scale irregularities in procurement of medicines, surgical consumables, other consumables and medical equipment by the DGHS CPA.

It was alleged that certain public servants, in conspiracy with private persons, manipulated procurement processes, tender conditions and technical specifications to provide undue advantage to selected firms and suppliers, thereby causing wrongful loss to the government exchequer and corresponding wrongful gain to private entities.

On the basis of the complaint, an FIR dated June 2 under Sections 7A, 13(1)(a), 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), read with Sections 61(2), 316(5), 318(4) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, was registered at the ACB Police Station.

In view of the material collected during investigation, both accused persons were questioned and subsequently arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Saturday.

“Both the accused were produced before the Rouse Avenue Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) on a one-day police custody remand was sought for custodial interrogation to recover incriminating documentary and electronic evidence, trace missing procurement records, identify other beneficiaries and co-conspirators, verify the money trail and unearth the larger conspiracy,” the statement said.

–IANS

rch/khz