Bail Granted to Two Former Health Officials in ₹842 Crore Medical Scam

According to a report by news outlet Aaj Tak, the Delhi High Court has granted regular bail to former Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Vatsala Agarwal and Dr. Vinod Kumar Ranga in the alleged ₹842 crore medical procurement scam. The court clarified in its order that the investigation in the case has progressed significantly and the evidence is primarily in documentary and electronic form, which the investigating agencies have already seized.

On November 7, 2026, Justice Sachin Datta ordered the release of both accused on certain conditions. Under these conditions, they will not be required to leave the National Capital Region (NCR) without permission and must surrender their passports. On the other hand, the bail application of the alleged main conspirator and medical supplier in this case, Rajiv Kumar alias Rajiv Rangila, was recently rejected by the special court at Rouse Avenue. According to the investigating agency, he had previously fled abroad and has not cooperated with the investigation.

According to the investigating agency, legally and technically there is no contradiction or disagreement between the FIR, the registered case, and the charge sheet in this case. All these are different stages of the same investigation process. On the complaint of the vigilance department, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) registered FIR number 07/2026 on June 2, 2026, under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

This was the first step in initiating the case. After its thorough investigation, the ACB filed a charge sheet of about 12,000 pages in the Rouse Avenue court on September 16, 2026. The charge sheet details the same foundational allegations with evidence that came to light during the post-FIR investigation. Currently, this trial is pending in the Rouse Avenue court and the court has taken cognizance of the charge sheet.

Formal charges are yet to be framed in the court. The initial FIR focused on tender processes, but by the time the charge sheet came, the scope of the investigation expanded. It was noted that X-ray machines worth ₹15 lakh were allegedly purchased for ₹38 lakh and while the tender was for only two machines, an order for 448 machines was placed. During the investigation, the ACB told the court that 10 important files related to the procurement are missing from the record, raising apprehensions of an attempt to destroy evidence.

While granting bail, the High Court also noted that no concrete proof of direct fund transfers (money trail) into the personal bank accounts of the doctors has been found yet, although the exchequer has allegedly suffered a massive loss of ₹842 crore. According to the Anti-Corruption Branch's investigation and charge sheet, the main mastermind of this scam, medicine trader Rajiv Kumar alias Rajiv Rangila, had floated multiple companies and firms to hijack tenders and mislead investigating agencies. The charge sheet reveals that payments were made to a total of 5 firms, which include the names of FMED Devices Technocrats, M. Sahib and Sons Private Limited, and Rajree Ashi Surgical and Pharmaceuticals. On paper, all these companies appeared separate, but the actual control of all of them was in the hands of Rajiv Rangila alone.

While granting regular bail to the two senior doctors—former DGHS Dr. Vatsala Agarwal and Dr. Vinod Kumar Ranga—the Delhi High Court has imposed several strict restrictions so that they cannot influence the investigation or witnesses. Both accused doctors will not be able to enter the offices or premises of the CPA (Central Procurement Agency) or DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services) without special permission of the court. They will neither contact any prosecution witness related to this case nor attempt to influence any evidence. The accused will have to deposit their passports in court and they will remain at their permanent residence in Delhi.