DGHS Medical Procurement Scam: Tender Files Destroyed to Hide Rs 839 Crore Fraud, Claims ACB
ACB claims tender files were destroyed to hide a Rs 839 crore medical procurement scam involving DGHS officials and five companies.
In a shocking revelation of systemic corruption, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has alleged that government tender files were intentionally destroyed to cover up a massive medical procurement scam. The ACB's latest chargesheet claims that a staggering Rs 839 crore was funneled to five beneficiary companies through a web of deceit and criminal connivance involving high-ranking health officials.
Massive Financial Leakage and Process Violations
The investigation has uncovered a blatant disregard for government procurement protocols. According to the ACB, payments totaling Rs 839 crore were made to five principal beneficiary firms without following the mandatory rules. Crucially, the agency pointed out that the bills for these transactions were not prepared through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), which is the standard portal for transparent government procurement.
To trace the movement of these funds and identify the ultimate beneficiaries, the ACB has meticulously analyzed bank records, which formed a core part of the evidence gathered during the probe.
The X-Ray Machine Markup
One of the most glaring examples of the fraud involves the purchase of portable X-ray machines equipped with AI software. The ACB revealed that a machine with an actual price of Rs 14 lakh was purchased for a whopping Rs 38 lakh. This massive inflation of cost was allegedly carried out in connivance with an accused firm, causing a significant wrongful loss to the government exchequer while providing wrongful gains to the private entity.
A Trail of Missing Documents
The ACB has highlighted a deliberate attempt to erase the evidence of these crimes. The agency alleges that tender-related files and bids, which were supposed to be in safe custody, were intentionally removed and destroyed.
The chargesheet notes that:
- Dr. Vinod Kumar Ranga, the former head of the Central Procurement Agency (CPA), had specifically issued an order on November 11, 2025, directing that tender files be kept in the safe custody of the HOO/CPA.
- Despite being the custodian of government funds and records, Dr. Ranga allegedly embezzled government properties and willfully destroyed evidence.
- Even after the files went missing, neither Dr. Ranga nor the former Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Vatsala Aggarwal, made any effort to trace the missing documents before their transfers.
The court observed that the lack of effort to recover these files strongly suggests that the accused were fully aware that the documents had been permanently destroyed to prevent recovery.
The Conspiracy: F-Med Devices and Government Officials
The ACB's investigation points toward a criminal conspiracy hatched between government officials and private players. Specifically, the firm F-Med Devices, owned by proprietor Rajiv Kumar (also known as Rajeev Rangeela), is accused of manipulating bids floated by the CPA/DGHS of the GNCT of Delhi.
The prosecution alleges that the procurement of 448 Portable X-Ray Machines with AI software was processed through Dr. Vinod Kumar Ranga, who allegedly moved the files to the DGHS multiple times to facilitate the fraud.
Legal Proceedings
The ACB has filed a massive 12,000-page chargesheet against:
- Dr. Vatsala Aggarwal (Former DGHS)
- Dr. Vinod Kumar Ranga (Former Head of CPA)
- Neeraj Chopra
Special Judge Vidya Prakash took cognisance of the chargesheet on October 17. The case is currently at the stage of document scrutiny. While the original tender files were destroyed, the ACB managed to seize other critical evidence, including GeM records, payment records, bank statements, electronic evidence, and statements from various officials.