AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday alleged that the BJP-led Delhi Government appointed Dr Vatsala Aggarwal as Director General of Health Services (DGHS) in violation of established rules, despite a pending vigilance inquiry against her. The allegations follow Dr Aggarwal's arrest in connection with an alleged Rs 650-crore health scam.
Allegations of Rule Violation
Bharadwaj claimed that Dr Aggarwal's arrest vindicated concerns he raised in August 2025 regarding her appointment. He alleged that several senior and more qualified doctors were overlooked for the state's top health post. In a post on X, he stated that Dr Aggarwal was appointed despite a vigilance inquiry into alleged irregularities in appointments at the Delhi State Cancer Institute, questioning why someone facing such allegations was chosen for a sensitive administrative position.
Demand for Investigation
Bharadwaj further alleged that the appointment was made on the recommendation of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and demanded an investigation into the circumstances. He questioned why Dr Aggarwal's name was recommended despite what he described as violations of rules and norms governing the appointment. He also claimed that Dr Rati Makkar, appointed DGHS by the BJP government around May 2025, sought voluntary retirement in July 2025 after reportedly expressing unwillingness to continue.
“It is high time it was found out why nobody wanted to become the DGHS,” Bharadwaj said, seeking an inquiry into why the position remained vacant and why Dr Aggarwal was ultimately appointed despite the pending vigilance inquiry.
