New Delhi (National Times): In a major development, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has filed a criminal case against former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and ex-PWD Minister Satyendar Jain in connection with a large-scale scam related to the construction of school classrooms in the national capital.
The case revolves around the construction of over 12,000 classrooms, where the ACB alleges massive financial misconduct. The scam, running into approximately ₹2,000 crore, involves unauthorized appointments of consultants, cost inflations, and failure to complete projects on time.
As per official estimates, the AAP government spent close to Rs 2,892 crore on these classrooms, with the average cost per room skyrocketing to Rs 24.86 lakh, whereas standard construction rates for such rooms hover around Rs 5 lakh.
The ACB has cited inputs from BJP functionaries, including Harish Khurana, MLA Kapil Mishra, and Neelkanth Bakshi, who flagged these irregularities in separate complaints. Following their submissions, and after obtaining mandatory sanction under Section 17-A of the POC Act, the case was formally lodged.
Officials noted that the architectural consultant involved in the project was appointed without adhering to due process and played a central role in the cost escalations.
This case adds to the growing legal troubles for AAP leadership, which is already grappling with investigations in multiple sectors including the Delhi liquor policy case.
