The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out raids at 13 different locations in the national capital, including the residence of senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, in connection with an alleged multi-thousand crore hospital construction scam.

The case, which has already rattled Delhi politics, revolves around alleged corruption in health infrastructure projects during the tenure of the AAP government. The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi had earlier filed a case against Bhardwaj and former Health Minister Satyendra Jain, who is already embroiled in multiple corruption and money laundering cases.

AAP Leadership in Shock

The ED’s early morning action triggered a political storm within AAP. Visuals showed heavy security deployment outside Bhardwaj’s residence, where ED officers were conducting searches. Several AAP workers gathered outside, protesting and raising slogans, leading to a minor scuffle with security personnel.

Reacting sharply, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other top AAP leaders accused the Centre of “political vendetta” and “misuse of agencies.” Party leaders including Atishi and Sanjay Singh held hurried press conferences, alleging that the ED action was an attempt to “suppress AAP” ahead of crucial political battles.

Atishi claimed that Bhardwaj was “not even the minister at the time of the project” and called the raids a “gross injustice.” Sanjay Singh went further, suggesting that the BJP was using central agencies to frame AAP leaders in fabricated cases.

The Alleged Scam: ₹5,800 Crore in Question

According to investigation reports, the controversy dates back to 2018-19, when the Delhi government announced an ambitious project for 24 hospitals with upgraded ICU facilities, additional beds, and new medical equipment.

• Project Value: ₹5,590 crore (initially)
• Expansion Cost: ICU hospital projects worth over ₹10,125 crore, including 6,800 beds
• Timeline: To be completed within 6 months

However, officials later discovered that less than 50% of the work was completed even after three years. Reports suggest that while around ₹800 crore was spent, much of the infrastructure remained incomplete. Several machines purchased under the scheme were allegedly found in non-functional or damaged condition in government hospitals like GTB Hospital.

The ACB investigation concluded that significant financial irregularities had occurred, and both Saurabh Bhardwaj and Satyendra Jain were named in the complaint. It was alleged that tenders were manipulated, funds diverted, and government resources misused.

Political Fallout and Public Outcry

The BJP has been quick to seize the moment, calling the case “the biggest health scam in Delhi’s history.” BJP leaders alleged that AAP treated public funds as a “party treasury,” siphoning off taxpayer money under the guise of healthcare reforms.

Meanwhile, AAP has alleged that this is yet another case of “selective targeting” by the Centre, pointing out that Jain was kept in jail for years before receiving relief from courts in other matters. AAP insists that the ED action is politically motivated and part of a larger plan to weaken the party.

What Happens Next?

With the ED tightening its investigation and political tensions rising, this case could mark a new flashpoint in Delhi’s already heated political landscape. If proven, the scam could deal a severe blow to AAP’s claims of clean governance. On the other hand, if the party successfully frames this as a misuse of agencies, it could rally public sympathy ahead of elections.

For now, Delhi’s political circles are abuzz with one question:
Was this truly a ₹5,800 crore scam — or another round in the endless Centre vs. AAP battle?