Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has issued a summons to former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in relation to a case of alleged corruption related to the construction of classrooms for government schools.
The ACB officials report that Jain has been summoned to the ACB on June 6, while Sisodia is to appear on June 9.
The summonses came on Tuesday as part of an inquiry into an alleged ₹2,000-crore scam pertaining to the construction of more than 12,700 classrooms and semi-permanent buildings during the previous AAP-led government.
An FIR was formally filed on April 30 against both the leaders. During the project period, Satyendar Jain was in charge of the Public Works Department (PWD), which was supposed to carry out the construction, and Manish Sisodia had the Education portfolio.
The ACB has charged that the project was full of financial discrepancies, such as awarding contracts at very high prices. Classrooms were said to be constructed at a cost of ₹24.86 lakh on average per classroom—practically five times above the normal rate.
The agency further alleges that the contracts were awarded to 34 companies, most of which supposedly had AAP ties.
Researchers indicate that even though the constructed buildings were semi-permanent with a projected lifespan of 30 years, the project cost was comparable to reinforced concrete structures with an average lifespan of up to 75 years. The ACB also reported that the cost of the project was enhanced by ₹326 crore without issuing new tenders.
Moreover, the agency found that "major deviations and significant cost escalations" were noted in the project's execution and none of the work contracted was being delivered on schedule.
An investigation into the reported irregularities was initially suggested by the vigilance department of the Delhi government in 2022, with a report being filed with the Chief Secretary. In March this year, President Droupadi Murmu approved the registration of an FIR against Sisodia and Jain.
The Aam Aadmi Party has responded by condemning the probe, accusing the charges as politically motivated and aimed at intimidating its leadership.
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