Manish Sisodia Did Not Attend ACB Inquiry in Delhi Government School Construction Corruption Case. Satyendar Jain's Inquiry Complete, Investigation Continues.
DELHI CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION SCAM: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) team was prepared to question former Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday regarding a serious alleged corruption case in the construction of Delhi government schools. However, Manish Sisodia expressed his inability to attend the inquiry. The ACB will now issue another summons to him.
Why Did Manish Sisodia Refuse the Inquiry?
The ACB team contacted Manish Sisodia for questioning, but he informed them of his unavailability. Officials state that a new date will soon be fixed to summon Manish Sisodia for questioning again. Meanwhile, another Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Satyendar Jain, has already been questioned in this case.
Satyendar Jain's ACB Inquiry and His Statement
Satyendar Jain was questioned for five hours on Friday. After the questioning, he launched a scathing attack on the BJP, claiming that the BJP is not doing any real work but is only harassing the public by increasing the fees of private schools.
Jain alleged that this case is a political conspiracy by the BJP to divert attention. He also stated that despite the Aam Aadmi Party building excellent schools, attempts are being made to implicate him and Manish Sisodia.
What is the Case? – Allegations of Corruption in the Construction of Delhi Schools
This case was registered in April 2025 when the ACB filed a corruption case against Manish Sisodia, the former Delhi Education Minister, and Satyendar Jain, the former Public Works Department Minister. It is alleged that a scam of approximately ₹2,000 crore occurred during the construction of 12,748 classrooms and buildings during the Delhi government's tenure.
Seriousness of the Corruption Allegations
BJP leader Harish Khurana filed a complaint in this matter. He alleged that while the average lifespan of classrooms made of cement (RCC) is 75 years, semi-pucca structures were built, with a lifespan of only 30 years. This led to a significant increase in cost, and the construction work was not completed within the stipulated timeframe.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)'s chief technical examiner's report highlighted several discrepancies in this project. According to the report, the project was awarded to contractors connected to the Aam Aadmi Party. Consultants and architects were appointed without following the tender process, further increasing the cost. This report was suppressed by the then Delhi government for approximately three years.
