The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tore into the BJP, questioning why the FIR against former Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain is being kept under wraps, while selective press notes are being leaked to the media. “Is the FIR so baseless that the BJP fears it will become a national joke if released publicly?” AAP asked, slamming a blatant misuse of agencies to defame its leaders. Citing official records, AAP pointed out that the ACB’s own documents admit the projects in question were sanctioned in 2017–18 and HIMS was announced in 2016–17—years before Bharadwaj assumed office in 2023.
On this, senior AAP leader and AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “On 24.06.2025, LG Vinai Saxena issued a press note, and today, Delhi ACB Head Madhur Verma (JCP) has also issued a press note for the media. In criminal cases, it is standard practice to release the FIR to the media. The LG and ACB are deliberately withholding the FIR because it would expose the mockery of law being orchestrated by the BJP Government.”
The AAP Delhi State President stated, “The FIR would make it abundantly clear that, without any reasonable cause, only two former Ministers have been named—while all Health and PWD officers, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, have been spared.”
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and former Minister Satyendar Jain stated that the LG’s press note dated 24.06.2025 refers to some projects sanctioned in 2018–19, and others in 2021. In contrast, the ACB Chief’s press note mentions only 24 projects sanctioned in 2017–18. It is an undisputed fact that Saurabh Bharadwaj became Minister in March 2023.
“There is, as yet, no evidence to suggest that these project sanctions were marred by corruption. Moreover, all these sanctions predate Saurabh Bharadwaj’s tenure. How can a Minister be held liable for actions taken two to five years before assuming office? Is this some kind of joke?” He questioned.
Sautabh Bharadwaj stated that another so-called instance of corruption cited by ACB Head Madhur Verma involves the Hospital Information Management System (HIMS), which was announced in 2016–17. Saurabh Bharadwaj became Minister only in 2023. “First of all, there is not a shred of evidence to suggest corruption in that announcement. Secondly, it is beyond comprehension how Saurabh Bharadwaj can be held responsible for these alleged crimes.”
