The Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has filed a chargesheet alleging large-scale irregularities in the procurement of medicines and medical equipment for government hospitals, estimating losses to the public exchequer at ₹842 crore.
The chargesheet, filed on September 16, names three government officials — Dr Vinod Kumar Ranga, Dr Vatsala Aggarwal and Neeraj Chopra — along with two companies, F-Med Devices and M Sahib and Sons Private Limited. The agency has alleged that businessman Rajiv Rangila orchestrated the procurement irregularities by manipulating tenders to benefit his firms.
One of the major allegations concerns the purchase of X-ray machines. According to the ACB, a tender initially floated for two machines eventually resulted in an order for 448 units. Machines priced at ₹14.9 lakh each by the manufacturer were allegedly purchased by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) for ₹37.8 lakh per unit.
The investigation also uncovered alleged inflated payments across other supplies. The chargesheet claims that ₹75 crore was paid for bedsheets and linen worth ₹25 crore, while ORS sachets valued at ₹1.25 crore were procured for ₹7.5 crore. Alleged kickbacks from medicine purchases amounted to ₹300 crore.
The ACB further alleged that tender conditions were manipulated to exclude competitors, payments to favoured companies were cleared within days, and 10 crucial procurement files had gone missing, hampering the investigation.
The irregularities surfaced in May following Vigilance Department raids at CPA offices. Dr Ranga was arrested on June 18, followed by Dr Aggarwal.
The chargesheet reportedly includes 123 documents and statements from 84 prosecution witnesses. A court has taken cognizance of the chargesheet.
