Hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party workers surrounded the main gate of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital in Delhi on Wednesday, demanding an independent investigation into what they called a ₹650 crore fraud involving hospital procurement contracts and equipment purchases.
Protest Details and Immediate Scene
The demonstration began at 9 a.m. when AAP supporters gathered near the emergency ward entrance. Police officers kept the protesters from blocking ambulances entering the facility. Hospital security confirmed that no patient services were disrupted during the three-hour standoff.
Party leaders including two MLAs addressed the crowd through megaphones. The protesters carried placards reading "Corruption Kills" and " ₹650 Crore Scam — Who Benefits?" Chants echoed through the narrow lane leading to the hospital's main building.
What the AAP Is Alleging
Party officials stated that internal hospital records obtained through RTI requests show inflated invoices for medical equipment purchased between 2019 and 2023. The documents allegedly indicate that suppliers received payments far exceeding market rates for CT scanners, MRI machines, and ventilators.
The ₹650 crore figure encompasses multiple contracts, according to the AAP's written complaint submitted to the Anti-Corruption Branch. Party representatives claim that hospital administrators approved purchases without following standard tender procedures. They have called for the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the inquiry.
Specific Contracts Under Scrutiny
The AAP complaint names three equipment suppliers and two hospital officials who allegedly authorized the disputed purchases. Party MLAs stated that one CT scanner was billed at nearly three times the price charged to other government hospitals in the same period.
Hospital Administration Responds
LNJP Hospital's Medical Director issued a brief statement denying any wrongdoing. The statement said all procurement followed existing government rules and that the hospital's internal audit department had found no evidence of fraud. Officials declined to answer questions from reporters outside the administrative building.
The Delhi Health Department referred inquiries to the state government's procurement portal. Records on that portal show multiple purchase orders for medical equipment at LNJP Hospital during the period under question.
Political Context in Delhi
The AAP governs Delhi through a coalition arrangement with the Lieutenant Governor. Opposition parties at the municipal level have also called for transparency in government hospital spending. Wednesday's protest adds pressure ahead of upcoming assembly sessions where health budget allocations will be debated.
State government officials have not commented publicly on whether they plan to order a separate audit. The Lieutenant Governor's office stated only that appropriate authorities would handle any formal complaints received.
Impact on Patients and Staff
For ordinary patients arriving at LNJP Hospital, the protest created temporary delays. An auto-rickshaw driver named Ramesh Kumar told reporters he waited forty minutes before security allowed him to drop off his wife at the outpatient department. The hospital treats approximately 8,000 patients daily across its various departments.
Medical staff members expressed frustration about the distraction. One senior doctor who asked not to be identified said investigations are welcome but called the protest timing disruptive during peak morning hours.
What Happens Next
The Anti-Corruption Branch confirmed receipt of the AAP's written complaint and stated that preliminary assessment would take at least two weeks. Party leaders have warned they will organize larger demonstrations if no action is taken within that timeframe.
Legal experts say any criminal investigation would require evidence that specific individuals personally benefited from the alleged overpayments. Simply proving that contracts were overpriced does not automatically constitute fraud under current law.
Watch Points Ahead
Over the next month, three developments will determine whether this protest leads to formal action or fades as political theater. First, whether the Anti-Corruption Branch finds enough merit to launch a full investigation. Second, whether the Central Bureau of Investigation accepts the AAP's request to take over the case. Third, whether the hospital's internal audit report, expected by the end of this month, substantiates or dismisses the party's claims.
For Delhi residents who depend on government hospitals, the outcome could affect future healthcare spending and the availability of medical equipment at facilities that serve the city's poorest populations.
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