Previous Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain find themselves in the dock once more as the Delhi Police Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has lodged a corruption case against them for their alleged role in a ₹2,000 crore classroom building scam. The move is yet another blow for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is already facing several charges against its leaders.
The case pertains to irregularities in the construction of over 12,000 school buildings and classrooms carried out during the erstwhile AAP regime. Manish Sisodia was the Deputy Chief Minister and had the Education portfolio, while Jain was the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, who carried out the construction work.
ACB Alleges Exorbitant Costs and Political Links
ACB Chief Madhur Verma explained that the contracts for construction were given to 34 contractors, some of whom were closely associated with AAP. The buildings, which were supposed to be Semi-Permanent Structures (SPS) with an estimated lifespan of 30 years, cost as much as pucca (concrete) buildings, which have a life of about 75 years.
“Construction was not completed on schedule, resulting in a huge cost overrun,” the ACB observed in its initial findings. The investigation also found consultants and architects to have been engaged without adhering to due process, adding to the costs.
CVC Report Brought out Irregularities, But Was Damped
The probe picked up steam after several BJP leaders complained of a fivefold hike in the cost of building classrooms, the ACB said. To substantiate their allegations, a report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) pointed to several financial and procedural irregularities in the project.
The CVC report revealed that constructing SPS classrooms cost ₹2,292 per square foot, equal to the rate for concrete buildings, which is between ₹2,044 and ₹2,416 per square foot. Additionally, the cost of the project swelled by ₹326 crore without awarding new tenders.
“Report revealing these anomalies was suppressed for nearly three years,” the ACB stated, questioning transparency and accountability in the implementation of the project.
Probe to Encompass More Officials and Contractors
Besides Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, the ACB has widened its investigation to unnamed government officials and contractors accused of collusion and corruption. “We are probing the involvement of unknown officials and associates in the scam,” Verma said.
The ACB will call in main officials, audit tender papers, and analyze the financial dealings involving the school construction project. The probe is meant to determine if there was a concerted effort to divert public funds and if due process was avoided to give advantage to specific contractors.
Political Fallout and Next Steps
The corruption case is time-sensitive for the AAP politically, with both Sisodia and Jain already caught up in other high-profile probes. The new allegations and formal filing of the case are sure to add another dent in the party’s clean governance reputation.
As the ACB proceeds with its in-depth investigation, pressure is building on the Delhi government to make efforts for transparency and accountability in public infrastructure developments, particularly in the education sector.
