The anti-corruption bureau has summoned AAP leaders and former Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in the alleged Rs 2000-crore classroom construction scam. Jain has been summoned on June 6, while Sisodia has been asked to visit the bureau office in Delhi on June 9.

The anti-corruption bureau had filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the two leaders in the matter on April 30, alleging that the construction of as many as 12,748 classrooms and buildings under the previous AAP government in Delhi was done at highly inflated costs. Sisodia was the Education Minister in the AAP regime while Jain held the Public Works Department (PWD) portfolio.

While lodging the FIR, the anti-corruption panel stated that "significant deviations and cost escalations" were noticed but not a "single work was completed within the prescribed period". "Consultant and architect (were) appointed without following due procedure, and cost escalations were carried out through him. (The) case registered after receiving permission u/s 17-A POC Act from the competent authority," it added.

The agency alleged that the over 12,500 classrooms were constructed at an increased rate of Rs 8,800 per square foot despite the common knowledge that the average cost, even for residential flats, was nearly Rs 1,500 per square foot.

The report further stated that the overall cost of building each classroom, according to the awarded tender, was approximately Rs 24.86 lakh, whereas similar rooms can generally be constructed in the national capital for around Rs 5 lakh each.

The case came to light in 2022, following the Delhi government's vigilance directorate recommending an investigation into the alleged scam during Sisodia and Jain's tenures in the AAP government, and submitting a report to the Chief Secretary.

The FIR against them was filed in April after President Droupadi Murmu gave her nod to the prosecution in March this year.

Source: India Today