ACB summons Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain over Rs 2,000 crore school construction corruption probe

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of Delhi has called on former ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain to appear in connection with a corruption case linked to the construction of classrooms in government schools during the last Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Jain is scheduled to appear on June 6, while Sisodia must report on June 9. This summons follows allegations involving a staggering Rs 2,000 crore in irregularities.

On April 30, the ACB filed a First Information Report (FIR) accusing the two leaders of corruption tied to the building of 12,748 classrooms or semi-permanent structures. Sisodia oversaw finance and education departments, while Jain was responsible for health, industries, power, home affairs, urban development, and public works during the AAP’s tenure.

Joint Commissioner Madhur Verma, who leads the ACB, explained the FIR followed findings from the Central Vigilance Commission’s (CVC) Chief Technical Examiner. He said, “The Chief Technical Examiner’s report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) pointed out several anomalies in the project, and the report was kept under the carpet for about three years.” The case was registered after permission under section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act was granted.

Cost escalation raises red flags

A key concern is the massive cost increase during construction. According to ACB officials, classrooms were to be built at Rs 1,200 per square foot but ended up costing nearly Rs 2,292 per square foot. BJP leaders claim this surge indicates corruption. The complaint they filed in 2019 noted that the cost per classroom was Rs 24.86 lakh—far higher than the roughly Rs 5 lakh typically spent on similar projects in Delhi.

The project involved 34 contractors, many allegedly linked to the AAP. BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Harish Khurana, and Neelkant Bakshi accused the former government of financial mismanagement in three school zones.

Violations highlighted in CVC report

The 2020 CVC report detailed multiple violations of government rules and tendering procedures. It found contracts awarded without proper bidding, project costs inflated by 17% to 90% without fresh tenders, and private consultants hired without following protocol. The report also flagged duplication of work, construction without actual demand from schools, and mismanagement of funds and schedules.

The AAP called the allegations “a calculated political ploy by the BJP,” saying, “They are weaponizing institutions to attack AAP leaders and create a false narrative… When Aam Aadmi Party held power in Delhi, the BJP systematically defanged the ACB to strip it of any real authority. Today, they are using the same weakened institution as a tool to target AAP leaders and further their own agenda.”

Both Sisodia and Jain have faced legal challenges before. Sisodia was arrested in the Delhi excise policy case, while Jain was detained in a money laundering investigation. Both remain out on bail.