India, July 31 -- The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has refuted reports that the names of innocent domestic workers or people living on the outskirts of the capital were misused to set up shell companies in the alleged Rs 700-crore medical scam. The ACB said it had found "no iota of evidence" so far that the identities of any innocent domestic workers or other individuals had been used to establish companies allegedly involved in the case. It also said no such person had approached the agency to report misuse of their name, and the investigation had not uncovered any innocent individual whose identity was used to perpetrate the alleged crime.
The clarification comes as the alleged role of drug dealer Rajeev Rangila in the case has come under greater scrutiny. The ACB has described Rangila as the alleged mastermind behind the Rs 700-crore scam, accusing him of creating fake companies to defraud the Delhi government through the procurement of medicines, surgical items and other healthcare equipment. Rangila is currently absconding, while several sacked health department officials have been arrested in connection with the case. A senior ACB official said the agency was monitoring everyone suspected of involvement, including Rangila's close associates who are also on the run.
The official said there was no evidence at present linking any innocent domestic worker or other person from the outskirts of Delhi to the alleged scam. "If any innocent person's name has been misused in this case, then that person can come forward and inform the investigating agency. Till then, everyone whose name has surfaced during the investigation is already under surveillance," the official said. The Rs 700-crore medical scam is being investigated by the ACB over alleged rigged tenders, inflated prices and irregularities in the procurement of medicines, surgical items and healthcare equipment. The agency said the investigation remains ongoing and that further action would be taken based on its findings.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.