The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Delhi has registered a First Information Report against former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and former Public Works Department Minister Satyendar Jain, both senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party , over allegations of large-scale corruption in the construction of classrooms in government schools. The case, pegged at approximately ₹2,000 crore, involves the construction of 12,748 classrooms across the capital during their tenure.
According to the ACB, the contracts for these classrooms were awarded at highly inflated rates, with each classroom reportedly costing around ₹24.86 lakh—nearly five times the standard market rate of ₹5 lakh. The agency alleges that the project was awarded to 34 contractors, many of whom were closely affiliated with the AAP. Significant deviations and cost escalations were observed, and not a single work was completed within the prescribed period.
The ACB’s investigation was initiated following a complaint filed in 2019 by Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari, who alleged financial irregularities in the construction of additional classrooms in government schools in zones 23, 24, and 28. The complaint claimed that the government spent ₹28 lakh per classroom, while the standard cost is around ₹5 lakh.
Further scrutiny revealed that the classrooms were constructed as Semi-Permanent Structures , which typically have a lifespan of 30 years. However, the cost incurred was nearly equivalent to that of fully reinforced concrete structures with a 75-year lifespan. No financial justification was provided for opting for SPS over permanent structures. Additionally, consultants and architects for the project were appointed without following due procedures, and cost escalations were carried out through them.
A report by the Chief Technical Examiner of the Central Vigilance Commission pointed out several anomalies in the project. The report was kept under wraps for about three years before the case was registered after receiving permission under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act from the competent authority.
The ACB’s findings also indicate that the project’s cost was increased by ₹326 crore without inviting new tenders. The cost of SPS construction reached ₹2,292 per square foot, almost equal to the cost of building concrete school buildings at ₹2,044–2,416 per square foot. The role of unknown government officials and contractors is also being investigated in the alleged classroom scam.
Census to Feature Caste Data in Landmark Policy Shift 