Ex-DGHS Chief Gets 4-Week Interim Bail on Medical Grounds in Rs 700-Cr Scam Case

A special court in New Delhi on Tuesday granted four weeks of interim bail on medical grounds to Dr Vatsala Aggarwal, the former Director General of Health Services (DGHS), who was arrested in connection with an alleged Rs 700-crore medical procurement scam.

Special Judge Vidya Prakash at the Rouse Avenue court granted the relief on humanitarian grounds, observing the 61-year-old accused's requirement for urgent and continuous medical care. The court directed that the interim bail be subject to Aggarwal furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with two sureties.

During the proceedings, the defence counsel submitted that Aggarwal was suffering from high blood pressure, palpitations, and breathing difficulties. The defence pointed out that her electrocardiogram (ECG) report showed abnormalities and that she had been advised to undergo a Holter monitoring test at the cardiology department of Safdarjung Hospital.

The defence argued that the hospital had scheduled the test for next February, calling the lengthy delay unrealistic and dangerous given the imminent threat to her life without timely medical evaluation and intervention.

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) opposed the interim bail application, arguing that the medical conditions cited by the defence were related to age and were neither life-threatening nor severe enough to justify interim release from custody.

In a related development in the same case, the Rouse Avenue court had on Monday rejected the regular bail plea of co-accused Dr Vinod Kumar Ranga, a former official with the Central Procurement Agency (CPA). The written order dismissing Ranga's bail plea was made available on Tuesday.