₹30 Crore Scam in Delhi Health Department: Items Bought at Triple the Market Rate, Vigilance Investigation Ordered

A massive scam worth ₹30 crore has come to light in the Delhi Municipal Corporation’s (MCD) Health Department. Non-essential items were purchased under the guise of “Primary Health Care,” and the purchases were made at nearly three times the prevailing market rates. Following a complaint, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has ordered an investigation. Preliminary inquiries have confirmed the allegations, and the matter has now been handed over to the Vigilance Department for a detailed probe.

Overpriced and Unnecessary Purchases
New Delhi: The MCD Health Department procured items that were not required in dispensaries, paying nearly three times the market rate. According to sources, corrupt officials in the Health Department manipulated the procurement process, causing a loss of ₹30 crore to the MCD.

Fearing exposure, officials allegedly attempted to hide evidence by moving the purchased items from different stores and dispensaries to various hospitals. A complaint was filed with the Central Vigilance Commission regarding this malpractice.

Preliminary Investigation Confirms Allegations
The CVC directed the Health Department to conduct an internal inquiry. The preliminary investigation validated the allegations, prompting the Health Department to hand over the matter to the Vigilance Department. The complaint revealed that the scam took place during 2024-25 and involved bulk purchases of items meant for dispensaries.

According to the complaint, no official demand was raised for the items, and they were left unused in departmental stores. Moreover, the quality of the purchased items was extremely poor. Despite this, officials procured the items at nearly three times the market price without issuing any formal tenders. Once the purchases were made, the officials involved feared that some colleagues within the department had discovered the irregularities.

Vigilance Department Takes Over Investigation
Given the gravity of the matter, the CVC instructed the Health Department to conduct an internal probe. The department’s preliminary investigation confirmed the irregularities, leading to the transfer of the case to the Vigilance Department for a detailed investigation.