ED raids ex-Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj's residence in hospital construction scam case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at 13 locations across Delhi-NCR, including the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged hospital construction scam.

The searches are being carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). They stem from an ECIR registered in the Delhi Hospital Construction Scam, which is connected to FIR No. 37/2025 dated June 26, 2025, filed by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi Police.

The FIR named former health ministers of the Delhi government, private contractors, and unidentified officials.

According to the federal agency, the case involves allegations of large-scale corruption, unjustified cost escalations, unauthorized constructions, and misappropriation of funds in health infrastructure projects under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).

ED teams searched Bhardwaj’s residence along with the offices and homes of contractors linked to the projects, seeking evidence of alleged diversion and laundering of public funds.

Bhardwaj, a senior AAP leader and close aide to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has previously served as Delhi’s health, urban development, and water minister. The ACB had earlier booked him and former minister Satyendar Jain in the matter.

The party has called the latest move by ED as a 'diversionary tactic'. "ED raids against Saurabh Bharadwaj diversionary tactic; case against him false, dates back to time when he wasn't even minister," said AAP leader Manish Sisodia.