ACB files corruption case against Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain

Manish Sisodia: The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has officially lodged an FIR against former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and ex-PWD Minister Satyendar Jain in connection with an alleged corruption case linked to the construction of school classrooms.

As per reports, the case involves suspected financial misconduct worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore during the construction of 12,748 classrooms or related infrastructure under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration.

ACB Chief Madhur Verma confirmed the registration of the case, stating that a report from the Central Vigilance Commission’s Chief Technical Examiner highlighted multiple irregularities in the project. “The report remained unaddressed for nearly three years. Action was initiated after receiving the necessary sanction under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Verma said.

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According to Verma, contractors with known ties to the AAP were selected for the project. Investigators found notable deviations from procedures, significant cost escalations, and widespread delays—no part of the work was reportedly finished on schedule. The probe also uncovered procedural violations in appointing the project’s architect and consultant, which allegedly contributed to inflated costs.

The allegations first emerged in 2019 when BJP MP Manoj Tiwari filed a complaint accusing the Delhi government of major financial irregularities. Tiwari claimed that while the government spent Rs 28 lakh per classroom, the actual cost should have been around Rs 5 lakh. The construction was carried out in government schools located in zones 23, 24, and 28.

Further findings indicated that the project was awarded to 34 contractors, many of whom reportedly had close links with the AAP. Tender documents revealed a lump sum classroom construction cost of Rs 24.86 lakh, sparking further concerns about overpricing.

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