The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has summoned senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain for questioning in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the construction of classrooms in government schools.
Satyendar Jain has been asked to appear before the ACB on June 6, while Manish Sisodia is scheduled for questioning on June 9, officials said.
The AAP has strongly denied the allegations, calling the summons a political move by the ruling BJP to target its leaders. “There is no corruption in the construction of classrooms. This is not a scam but a calculated political ploy,” the party said, accusing the BJP of weaponising institutions to attack them.
The FIR, registered on April 30, alleges financial irregularities worth around Rs 2,000 crore involving the construction of over 12,000 classrooms or semi-permanent structures in Delhi government schools. The case is based on a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report that pointed out multiple anomalies in the project, which reportedly went unaddressed for nearly three years.
During the previous AAP government, Manish Sisodia handled the finance and education departments, while Satyendar Jain was responsible for public works and other portfolios.
The ACB’s Joint Commissioner Madhur Verma stated the FIR was registered with proper approval under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The AAP accused the BJP of weakening the ACB during its previous rule and now using it as a tool for political vendetta after coming to power in Delhi earlier this year.
In 2019, BJP leaders had filed complaints alleging that the cost per classroom was inflated to nearly Rs 25 lakh, much higher than the estimated Rs 5 lakh for similar structures.
The investigation is ongoing, and further action will be decided based on its findings. The BJP has yet to respond to AAP’s accusations of politicisation.
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