The Delhi Police Anti-Corruption Branch arrested former Director General of Health Services Dr. Vatsala Aggarwal on June 28, 2024 [1].
The arrest marks a significant escalation in the investigation of high-level government corruption within India's capital. It highlights potential systemic failures in the oversight of public health spending and the procurement of essential medical resources.
Authorities said that Dr. Aggarwal was involved in a corruption case concerning the procurement of medicines, surgical supplies, and medical equipment [2]. The scale of the alleged irregularities is estimated at ₹600 crore [1]. This procurement process is central to the current investigation into how public funds were allocated for health services in the city.
Investigators are focusing on the specific mechanisms used to bypass standard procurement protocols. The case involves a multi-crore medical scam that authorities said impacted the acquisition of critical healthcare supplies [2]. The Anti-Corruption Branch conducted the operation in Delhi to secure the former official's custody [2].
Legal proceedings are ongoing as the branch examines the financial trail associated with the ₹600 crore [1] procurement. The case has also drawn the attention of other agencies, with reports indicating a money laundering case has been registered in connection to the scam [3].
Dr. Aggarwal previously served as the top health official for the city's health services. The investigation continues to probe whether other officials, or private contractors, collaborated to facilitate the alleged fraud [2].
“The scale of the alleged irregularities is estimated at ₹600 crore.”
This arrest underscores the vulnerability of public health procurement systems to high-level graft, particularly when dealing with large-scale medical equipment contracts. The involvement of the Anti-Corruption Branch and potential money laundering charges suggest that investigators are looking beyond simple administrative errors to uncover a structured network of financial crime within the Delhi health administration.
