Leader of the Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly Babulal Marandi on Tuesday accused the Hemant Soren government of rampant corruption in the Health Department.

He alleged that the corporation established within the Health Department was created only to facilitate looting and to manipulate tenders and contracts. Mr. Marandi demanded that the State Government recommend a CBI probe into the entire matter.

Addressing the media at the party office in Ranchi, Mr. Marandi alleged that over the past six years, the Hemant Soren government has ruined the state of affairs in Jharkhand. He argued that as long as the guilty officials remain in their positions, how can corruption ever be eradicated? Mr. Marandi said that the latest controversy is linked to the corruption in the Health Department.

“In the appointment of Shailendra Srivastava as a Consultant at Jharkhand Medical and Health Infrastructure Development and Procurement Corporation Limited (JMHIDPCL) , established rules and regulations have been flouted. In 2016, the Jharkhand government framed a rule stating that a retired officer could be granted a service extension for a maximum period of three years,”Mr. Marandi said.

He added, “In 2022, a further rule was enacted stipulating that if an individual service extension were to continue beyond the initial three years, the consent of the Chief Minister would be mandatory. Despite these regulations—and without obtaining the Chief Minister’s approval—an individual named Shailendra Srivastava was appointed as a Consultant for a fourth consecutive year on December 12, 2025. He continues to serve in the very same capacity today, now in his fifth year.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader alleged that in connivance of officials, JMHIDPCL has been transformed into a hub for looting, kickbacks, and tender-related wrongdoings.

Mr. Marandi pointed out that the irregularities came to light during the audit of the Health Department. He claimed that in June 2022, no utility assessment was conducted regarding the procurement of 206 ambulances at a cost of ₹55.58 crore, and all ambulances were lying idle for over a year.

“The public received no benefit from this initiative. Now, in 2026, a fresh tender worth approximately ₹80 crore has been issued for the procurement of another 237 new, customised ambulances. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has exposed grave irregularities in the procurement and utilisation of the state’s ambulance infrastructure,”Mr. Marandi said.

He further claimed that the life-saving medicines worth crores of rupees have expired while lying in the Corporation’s warehouses, and the medicines purchased never reached the patients. Mr. Marandi stated that the State Government, despite being fully aware of the situation, continues to pretend ignorance, and in the name of an inquiry, only an eyewash is being conducted.

He demanded a re-audit of the JMHIDPCL and CBI investigation into the irregularities mentioned in the CAG report. Furthermore, Mr. Marandi demanded an impartial and independent investigation to be conducted by the CBI into the roles played by the Health Minister and the Health Secretary in the alleged scam.