New Delhi — The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi Police has intensified its probe into the alleged ₹2,000 crore classroom construction scam, recording statements from nearly 20 individuals, including engineers, contractors, and officials from the Education Department, according to official sources.
A key focus of the investigation is the suspicious transfer of funds to an architect’s account, despite no architect being formally appointed for the government project. This unexplained financial trail has emerged as a critical lead, raising red flags about the possible laundering of inflated project costs.
🧾 Technical Audit and Expert Involvement
Before summoning senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, the ACB conducted a technically detailed audit, bringing in two independent engineers to evaluate the alleged cost escalations and financial losses.
The ACB also reached out to the Chief Technical Examiner for expert assistance in identifying procedural violations and determining if there was intentional cost inflation in the classroom construction project.
📆 Summons Issued
The case is now moving toward high-profile questioning, with formal summons issued to the former ministers:
- Satyendar Jain: Asked to appear before the ACB on June 6.
- Manish Sisodia: Summoned to appear in court on June 9.
The summons follow a formal complaint by BJP leaders Harish Khurana, Kapil Mishra, and Neelkanth Bakshi, who alleged widespread corruption in the execution of the education infrastructure project under the AAP-led government.
💸 Key Allegations
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (ACB), Shweta Singh Chauhan, the complaint and ensuing investigation revealed:
- Irregularities in the construction of 12,748 classrooms.
- A reported total expenditure of ₹2,892 crore.
- Cost per classroom pegged at ₹24.86 lakh, despite similar semi-permanent structures costing around ₹5 lakh in the open market.
- 34 contractors allegedly linked to AAP were involved in the tenders.
- Violations of procurement norms and financial procedures.
🔍 Investigation Scope Widens
With the architect’s unexplained fund receipts and the involvement of politically connected contractors, the case has broadened from procedural lapses to potential money laundering and criminal conspiracy.
The investigation appears poised to enter a crucial phase, with the likely interrogation of key AAP figures and a detailed forensic audit of the financial transactions.
🏛️ Political Repercussions
The allegations strike at the core of AAP’s much-touted education reforms and are expected to have significant political and legal fallout ahead of upcoming civic and assembly elections in Delhi.
Both Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are already facing other legal challenges, including cases under money laundering and corruption laws.