ACB summons Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain in Rs 2,000 crore Delhi classroom scam case

It has also been alleged that the project was handed over to 34 contractors, most of whom were allegedly affiliated with the AAP.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has issued summonses to senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in connection with an alleged Rs 2,000 crore scam linked to the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools, ANI reported.

According to the report, Satyendar Jain has been asked to appear before the ACB on June 6, while former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has been summoned to appear before a court on June 9.

The action follows a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Harish Khurana, BJP MLA Kapil Mishra, and Neelkanth Bakshi from the BJP’s Media Relations Department. The complaint alleges inflated costs and irregularities in the construction of semi-permanent classrooms.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Anti-Corruption Branch) Shweta Singh Chauhan told ANI, “We received a complaint against Manish Sisodia, former Deputy CM, and Satyendar Jain, former PWD Minister... the scam is of over Rs 2,000 crore. The classrooms were semi-permanent structures, and the cost estimate was around Rs 24,00,000 per classroom, which was more than the prevalent market rate back then.”

“There was a considerable cost escalation by the time projects were completed. The allegations are that the prevalent market rate by then was Rs five lakhs to complete a classroom structure,” she added.

The complaint claims that approximately 12,748 classrooms were built at an estimated cost of Rs 2,892 crore. The cost per classroom, as per the awarded tenders, stood at Rs 24.86 lakh, nearly five times the estimated market rate of Rs 5 lakh for similar structures, ANI reported.

Chauhan further said that the project was awarded to 34 contractors, most of whom are allegedly linked to the AAP.

ACB chief Madhur Verma told ANI that the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), during its 2015-16 meetings, had approved the project with a strict condition: it had to be completed by June 2016 within the sanctioned cost, with no scope for future escalations. However, the investigation reportedly revealed violations of procurement norms and a breach of the approved financial plan.

The case is currently under investigation, with further legal proceedings expected following the upcoming appearances of the two AAP leaders.