The Delhi Police’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has filed a fresh corruption case against former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, linked to a Rs 2,000-crore classroom construction scam during their tenure in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.
The ACB is also investigating the involvement of unknown government officials and contractors, many of whom are reportedly close to AAP. The scam allegedly revolves around the construction of over 12,000 classrooms and school buildings at inflated costs, which were carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) and overseen by Jain, while Sisodia held the Education portfolio.
According to ACB chief Madhur Verma, the classrooms were built using Semi-Permanent Structure (SPS) models with an expected life of 30 years. However, the costs were nearly equal to permanent pucca constructions, which typically last up to 75 years.
The ACB found that:
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Contracts were awarded to 34 firms, many allegedly linked to AAP.
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Construction was delayed, leading to cost escalations.
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Architects and consultants were hired without proper tendering processes.
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The cost per square foot reached Rs 2,292, rivalling pucca buildings which cost between Rs 2,044 and Rs 2,416 per sq ft.
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An additional Rs 326 crore was approved without issuing fresh tenders.
The investigation was reportedly triggered by BJP leaders’ complaints over a five-fold surge in construction costs. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had earlier flagged several irregularities in its report, which was allegedly suppressed for nearly three years.
This development marks yet another legal challenge for AAP’s top leadership, already under scrutiny in multiple cases related to alleged corruption in governance and public works.
