NEW DELHI: Former Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr Vatsala Agarwal was arrested on Saturday in a corruption case linked to alleged irregularities in the procurement of medicines, surgical items and medical equipment, according to news agency PTI. The arrest of Dr Vatsala Agarwal comes days after the ACB arrested Dr Vijay Kumar Ranga in the same case. Ranga was later remanded to four days’ police custody by a Delhi court. According to the ACB, the case relates to alleged large-scale financial irregularities in procurement worth several hundred crores carried out by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA), which functions under the DGHS. The investigation was initiated after the Directorate of Vigilance flagged suspicious transactions and possible procedural violations. Investigators have alleged that procurement of portable X-ray machines, bed sheets and linen, C-arm radiological equipment, anaesthesia workstations, oral rehydration solution (ORS), surgical consumables and medicines was carried out at inflated prices through manipulated tender processes. The ACB further alleged that tailor-made specifications were designed to favour selected suppliers, thereby excluding genuine bidders from the process and resulting in alleged misuse of public funds amounting to hundreds of crores. Based on the complaint, a case was registered on June 2 under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sections of criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Officials said procurement records, tender files and related documents are being examined as part of the probe. Agarwal was removed from the DGHS post on May 21 and placed under “awaiting posting” before being transferred to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. She was later suspended on the directions of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu to enable disciplinary proceedings. The Delhi government has also suspended five pharmacists and two CPA officials after an internal inquiry reportedly found serious irregularities in procurement, storage and management of medicines at various agency stores. The ACB said further investigation is underway to determine the role of other officials and private suppliers in the alleged scam.
