The Anti -Corruption Bureau (ACB) has issued a second summons to former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000 crore classroom construction scam. Earlier, Sisodia was to be questioned at the ACB office on Monday, but he did not appear before the authorities for personal reasons. Former Delhi minister Satyendra Jain, accused in this scam, was summoned on 6 June and was questioned by ACB.
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The ACB lodged an FIR against Jain and Sisodia in the scam on 30 April, alleging that 12,748 classes and buildings were constructed at a highly increased cost during the previous AAP government in Delhi. The AAP government was Sisodia Education Minister, while Jain had a portfolio of the Public Works Department (PWD). When registering the FIR, the ACB stated that “considerable deviation and cost increase” was observed, but “not a single work was completed within the stipulated period”.
It said, “The advisor and architect were appointed without following the appropriate procedure, and the cost was increased through them. A case was registered after obtaining permission from the competent authority.” The ACB alleged that classes were constructed at an increased rate of Rs 8,800 per sq ft, while it is well known that the average cost for residential flats was about Rs 1,500 per sq ft.
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It said that according to the tender, the total cost of construction of each class was around Rs 24.86 lakh, while in the national capital, similar rooms can usually be built for about Rs 5 lakh. The case came to light in 2022, when the Directorate of Vigilance of the Delhi Government recommended an inquiry into the alleged scam during the tenure of Sisodia and Jain in the AAP government and submitted a report to the Chief Secretary.