Delhi Police files new case against Manish Sisodia, Satyendra Jain in 'Rs 2,000 crore scam'

New case filed against Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain

The Delhi Police has registered a fresh case against Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain. Reports said that the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi Police found that over 12,000 classroom and school buildings were constructed at a cost during the previous AAP tenure. This allegedly led to irregularities worth Rs 2,000 crore.

Media reports said that according to the ACB, the classrooms were built in the form of a Semi-Permanent Structure that would allow them to last for 30 years. However, it was found that the cost that such classrooms was built at was equal to that of pucca classrooms that are built to last for 75 years.

The CVC report said that the cost of SPS construction reached Rs 2,292 per sq ft - which was almost equal to the cost of building concrete school buildings at Rs 2044-2416 per sq ft.

ACB has said that at least 34 contractors had been assigned to the project, and most such contractors are known to have links with the Aam Aadmi Party. Further, the construction of the classrooms was not even completed in the stipulated time frame, which eventually led to the exponential rise in cost.

Sisodia was in charge of the Education portfolio during the AAP tenure in the national capital, while Jain was in charge of the Public Works Department (PWD).

The investigation in the case had reportedly begun after some BJP leaders lodged complaints after noticing that the cost of building classrooms had gone up by five times.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has also pointed out irregularities in the said project. However, the claims made by the CVC were suppressed for three years, the investigation has found.

The cost of the project also increased since architects and consultants were hired for the job without following the due procedures. It further said that the project's cost was increased by Rs 326 crore without bringing in new tenders.