A Delhi court has rejected the regular bail plea of former Deputy Controller of Accounts Neeraj Chopra in the alleged Rs 840-crore Directorate General of Health Services medical procurement scam, citing the seriousness of the allegations, his alleged role and the continuing stage of the investigation.
Special Judge (ACB) Vidya Prakash of the Rouse Avenue Court passed the order on Tuesday, 3 November. The court held that the filing of a chargesheet alone does not automatically entitle an accused to bail and said the nature of the alleged offences, their seriousness, the possible sentence upon conviction, the alleged method of committing the offences and the accused’s role had to be considered.
Chopra was posted as Deputy Controller of Accounts in the Central Procurement Agency in 2022. The Anti-Corruption Branch has filed a chargesheet against him, former DGHS Director General Vatsala Aggarwal and Dr Vinod Kumar Ranga in connection with the alleged medical procurement irregularities.
The court also noted that further investigation was continuing in relation to co-accused Rajiv Kumar, also known as Rajiv Rangeela, and other unidentified individuals, firms and companies. The ongoing investigation was among the factors considered while deciding the bail application.
During the hearing, Chopra’s counsel argued that he had no role in the procurement of medicines, medical equipment and other essential hospital supplies. The defence submitted that the alleged inflation of procurement rates, which formed the basis of the first information report, had been determined by co-accused Ranga and Aggarwal. It argued that Chopra’s case should therefore be considered separately from theirs.
The defence also pointed out that the bail applications of the two co-accused had been rejected on 17 October. The prosecution opposed bail through Senior Public Prosecutor Kumar Sanjay, who told the court that the evidence collected during the investigation indicated alleged collusion between Chopra, the other accused and unidentified companies.
According to the prosecution’s case as reported in the court proceedings, the alleged criminal conspiracy involved encouraging cartel formation during the bidding process and acting against the interests of the government department. The prosecution further alleged that Central Vigilance Commission guidelines and financial rules were breached when the e-procurement process through the Government e-Marketplace portal was abruptly stopped.
The allegations relate to the procurement of medicines, medical devices and other hospital requirements through the DGHS system. The court’s order does not determine guilt; the charges and the prosecution’s allegations will be tested during the criminal proceedings. The investigation concerning other persons and entities remains ongoing.
