AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are facing fresh legal trouble in connection with an alleged ₹2,000-crore classroom construction scam. Delhi Police’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has registered a new corruption case against the two and launched a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the involvement of other individuals.
“The role of unknown government officials and contractors is also being investigated,” said ACB chief Madhur Verma.
Mr Sisodia, who held the Education portfolio in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government, and Mr Jain, who headed the Public Works Department (PWD), are being investigated over allegations of awarding contracts at inflated costs.
According to the ACB, over 12,000 classrooms and school buildings were constructed at exorbitant rates during the previous AAP regime, leading to suspected irregularities amounting to ₹2,000 crore.
Contracts were reportedly awarded to 34 contractors, most of whom were allegedly associated with AAP. The ACB noted that delays in construction led to significant cost escalation.
The classrooms were built as Semi-Permanent Structures (SPS) expected to last 30 years. However, the cost was reportedly equivalent to that of permanent (pucca) classrooms with a lifespan of 75 years, the probe revealed.
Further cost inflation occurred due to the hiring of consultants and architects without following proper procedure, the ACB said.
The investigation was initiated following complaints from BJP leaders, who alleged that classroom construction costs had increased nearly fivefold.
A report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) that flagged several irregularities in the project was also cited by the ACB. “The report was suppressed for almost three years,” an official said.
According to the report, the cost of SPS construction reached ₹2,292 per square foot, nearly equal to the cost of concrete school buildings at ₹2,044–2,416 per square foot. Additionally, the total project cost was increased by ₹326 crore without issuing fresh tenders.
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