Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain Booked in Rs 2,000Cr Classroom Construction Scam
ACB registers corruption case against former Delhi ministers over inflated contracts and irregularities
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has registered a corruption case against senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and former Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in connection with an alleged ₹2,000 crore scam tied to the construction of school classrooms.
According to officials, the case was registered after receiving formal sanction under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The complaint alleges massive irregularities in the construction of more than 12,000 classrooms during the tenure of the AAP-led Delhi government.
At the time, Manish Sisodia held the post of deputy chief minister and also handled the education portfolio, while Satyendar Jain was the minister in charge of the Public Works Department (PWD).
In a statement, the ACB said that the classroom construction contracts were awarded at grossly inflated prices—reportedly ₹24.86 lakh per classroom, nearly five times the standard cost. The probe further alleges that these contracts were given to contractors closely linked with the Aam Aadmi Party, raising questions about conflict of interest and misuse of public funds.
Sources from the ACB confirmed that the irregularities were discovered following a detailed audit and internal probe into the project. The agency noted several instances of deviations from standard procedures, lack of competitive bidding, and manipulation of tenders to favor specific contractors.
PTI quoted ACB officials as saying that further investigations are underway to trace the financial trail and identify additional individuals involved in the alleged scam.
Neither Sisodia nor Jain has issued an official response so far. The case adds to the mounting legal troubles for the two leaders, both of whom are already facing separate probes in connection with other corruption allegations.
