Latest news with #JaiBhimMukhyamantriPratibhaVikasYojana
Mint
7 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
AAP's free coaching scheme under scanner, L-G orders probe – ‘will have to account for every penny' says CM Rekha Gupta
Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has ordered a probe into alleged corruption in the free coaching scheme for the underprivileged launched by the previous Aam Aadmi Party government (AAP), Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Wednesday. The decision was taken based on the recommendation of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who in a post on X said, 'Allegations of major financial irregularities have emerged in the 'Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana' during 2020-21.' Gupta alleged that while the scheme's official budget was ₹ 15 crore, the Arvind Kejriwal government cleared bills worth over ₹ 145 crore. The scheme, launched in 2018, aimed to provide free coaching to SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and minority students at private coaching institutes for various competitive exams, including the UPSC, SSC, NEET, and CLAT. The scheme was discontinued when the new government was formed in February this year. Hitting back at the BJP-led government, the Aam Aadmi Party termed the ACB probe as "vendetta politics." Addressing a press conference, Sood, flanked by SC/ST Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj, alleged that during 2021-22, private coaching institutes submitted bills of ₹ 145 crore, despite minimal documentation and no proper verification of beneficiaries. "Shockingly, the AAP government did not even ask for a list of students from these institutes before processing the bills," Sood said, adding that after the BJP government came to power, the institutes were asked to submit student details and a list of 13,000 students was received, he said. According to him, verified records, however, showed only about 3,000 students receiving coaching under the scheme. "There was such corruption by the previous AAP government that even Dr Ambedkar's soul would be pained," the minister said. Indraj pointed out that the matter is already under judicial scrutiny and that the government's preliminary findings reveal that about 35 coaching centres failed to provide verified data for even 100 students. He charged that when the COVID cases were going up and lakhs of families were struggling financially, leaders from the previous government, in alleged collusion with "coaching mafias," launched this scam. Sood said the scheme was proposed to coach 4,900 students in 2018 and 2,071 in 2019. However, between July 2021 and August 2022, bills worth ₹ 145 crore were submitted. "Surprisingly, instead of verifying the bills, the AAP government later took the coaching institutes to court over the payments," he added. Sood said, "The average coaching cost is ₹ 1 lakh for IAS, ₹ 50,000 for MBA/CLAT, ₹ 30,000 for SSC/LIC, ₹ 25,000 for Group-C exams and ₹ 10,000 for interview preparation." He added, "Even if we consider that all 3,000 verified students took IAS coaching, the maximum cost would be around ₹ 30 crore. How did it become ₹ 145 crore?" Gupta, in her post, said the Aam Aadmi Party will have to account for every penny. "Their politics has always been a show in the name of Dalits. But when it came to responsibility, they did not hesitate to rob them of their rights. Now their real face will be exposed," she alleged. The AAP in a statement said the saffron party had "shut down a functioning model" of public services in education, health, and electricity, alleging it of indulging in vendetta politics. "Check every brick in Delhi's schools, every needle in our Mohalla Clinics … But after you are done with your witch hunt, start doing some real work," the party said in the statement, urging the BJP to honour the public mandate and focus on governance. The party alleged that civic issues such as power cuts, sewer overflows, and fee hikes in private schools have worsened under the BJP's watch. "Six months have gone by, and not a single step has been taken to address the issues of ordinary citizens," it said. The AAP flagged the BJP's yet-to-be ratified promise of ₹ 2,500 per month to them. The AAP will have to account for every penny. "They have turned 'Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makaan' into 'Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Maidaan,'" it added.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt refers free coaching scheme ‘fraud' to ACB
New Delhi: Delhi govt has referred a case of alleged fraud in the Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana to the anti-corruption branch for investigation. The scheme was announced by the previous AAP govt to provide free coaching for competitive exams, including civil services, to students belonging to the SC, ST, OBC, economically weaker sections, and minority students at private institutes. Addressing a press conference alongside SC/ST minister Ravindra Indraj Singh, education minister Ashish Sood alleged that 35 coaching institutes, which had a tie-up with Delhi govt to provide coaching, raised a bill of Rs 145 crore during the Covid period from Aug 2021 to July 2022, while the then govt had passed a budget of just Rs 15 crore. AAP govt, he claimed, neither sought any list of students from the coaching institutes nor verified them. It was only after BJP govt pursued the coaching centres that a list of nearly 13,000 students was submitted without any supporting documents related to their admission. "After the concurrence of CM, the file was sent to LG, who gave his approval for an investigation by the anti-corruption branch," Sood said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi AAP accused the BJP-led Delhi govt of using corruption allegations as a smokescreen to "systematically dismantle every welfare scheme", despite not a single claim being proven to date. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo According to Sood, no due process was followed in the scheme and AAP govt subsequently asked the coaching institutions to seek legal redress for payments. He added that a preliminary investigation revealed that coaching institutions provided data for 13,000 students, but only 3,000 could be verified. "The rest had no supporting documentation or register entries. There was such corruption by AAP govt that even Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar's soul would be pained," Sood said. "Even if it is assumed that all the students received coaching for the civil services exam, for which the fee was Rs 1 lakh, the total amount payable would be Rs 130 crore, making the Rs 145 crore claim completely unjustified," he said. He added that 4,900 students received coaching under the scheme in 2018, while the number came down to 2,071 in 2019. In a post on X, CM Rekha Gupta said the allegations of major financial irregularities emerged in the scheme during 2021–22. The scheme was marred with fake applications, many without documentation or signatures, and some coaching institutes submitted 100% fake claims, she added. "The anti-corruption branch will investigate these financial irregularities thoroughly, and the guilty will be brought to justice. Those who committed corruption in the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar would be made accountable for every penny. AAP has only used Dalits for political optics but failed miserably when it came to real empowerment," she wrote. Responding to the allegations, AAP's Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj said: "From shutting down mohalla clinics, ending free bus travel for women, to withdrawing free medicines from govt hospitals and moving towards the privatisation of Delhi's water supply -- every step is calculated to erase AAP's model of governance. The latest target is the free coaching scheme for Dalit students, which BJP is now trying to shut down under false pretexts. "
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
L-G orders probe into ‘₹145-cr. coaching scam' during AAP rule
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday said Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena has directed the Anti-Corruption Branch to investigate an alleged ₹145-crore scam by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under the Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana, a scheme meant to provide free coaching to marginalised students. Addressing a joint press conference with Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh, Mr. Sood said that the AAP government indulged in corruption during the COVID-19 period, using a scheme meant for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) as a cover for massive financial irregularities. Mr. Sood said the scheme had originally promised free coaching for SC/ST students for exams such as UPSC, NEET, and JEE. 'But unfortunately, AAP leaders indulged in corruption... This is not only an insult to Babasaheb's vision but also a betrayal of thousands of students who relied on this scheme to shape their future,' he said, vowing that the culprits will not be spared. Citing data, the Minister said that while 4,900 students were enrolled in 2018 and 2,071 in 2019, the number of students claimed to have been coached between July 2021 and August 2022 shot up dramatically. Despite the scheme's original budget of ₹15 crore, coaching institutes submitted claims worth ₹145 crore. 'Fake bills' Mr. Sood alleged that although data was submitted for nearly 13,000 students, only 3,000 could be verified, with no supporting documents found for the rest. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta echoed the allegations in a post on X, claiming that 'serious financial misconduct' had occurred in 2020-21. 'The budget of this scheme was only ₹15 crore, but the AAP government forwarded files with fake bills exceeding ₹142 crore,' she wrote. She also alleged that claims were submitted without supporting documents, applications lacked signatures, and some institutions raised 100% claims in the names of Dalit students who never actually received coaching. 'AAP has insulted the ideals of Babasaheb and tainted the sacred field of education,' Ms. Gupta said, asserting that the Anti-Corruption Branch would investigate the case thoroughly and bring the guilty to justice. The L-G's office is yet to issue an official statement. The schemewas launched in 2018 to support students from SC, ST, and OBC communities with an annual family income of less than ₹8 lakh. It aimed to provide free coaching for competitive exams like engineering, medicine, and civil services, with the Delhi government covering the fees. AAP response In a sharp rebuttal, AAP issued a statement and urged the BJP to 'move beyond rhetoric' and vendetta campaigns and focus on governance. 'They have shut down a functioning model. The electricity, the health services, the education reforms –all halted. Instead of working, BJP leaders spend their days abusing AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. They have no vision, no plan,' it said. AAP challenged the BJP to inspect all aspects of its infrastructure. 'Check every brick in Delhi's schools, every needle in our Mohalla Clinics. Check the buses, the hospitals – check it all. But after you're done with your witch-hunt, start doing some real work,' the party said.
NDTV
16-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Delhi Orders Probe Into Rs 145-Crore 'Scam' In Jai Bhim Coaching Scheme
Delhi: The Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana, a scheme meant to fund free coaching at private institutes for underprivileged students during the Aam Aadmi Party government, is now at the centre of a political and financial controversy. Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday ordered an Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) probe into an alleged Rs 145-crore scam linked to the scheme during the Covid period. The announcement was made by Delhi's Home and Education Minister Ashish Sood and SC/ST Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh while addressing a press conference, alleging large-scale irregularities under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. "The Jai Bhim scheme was started to help SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Minority students prepare for competitive exams like UPSC and NEET, but during the pandemic, it became a tool for embezzlement," Mr Sood said. He added that coaching institutes prepared a bill payment of Rs 145 crore between July 2021 and August 2022-far beyond the scheme's original budget of Rs 15 crore. Out of 13,000 student claims submitted by coaching centres, only about 3,000 could be verified, Mr Sood said, adding, the rest allegedly lacked documentation, signatures, or any record of attendance. "The average coaching cost is Rs 1 lakh for IAS, Rs 50,000 for MBA/CLAT, Rs 30,000 for SSC/LIC, Rs 25,000 for Group-C exams and Rs 10,000 for interview preparation," he said. "Even if we consider that all 3,000 verified students took IAS coaching, the maximum cost would be around Rs 30 crore. How did it become Rs 145 crore?," Mr Soon added. He alleged that AAP has insulted Dr Ambedkar's legacy and turned a welfare scheme into a nexus of corruption. Following a recommendation from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the LG approved a detailed probe by the ACB into what is now being referred to as an "alleged coaching scam." The investigation will focus on 35 coaching centres that failed to provide verified data for even 100 students, SC/ST Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh said. He said the scheme, which began in 2018, was intended to create educational opportunities for Dalit students. "Instead, it was allegedly turned into a money-making racket. We owe it to the students to investigate this thoroughly," Singh said. 'Witch Hunt, Not Governance': AAP Responds The Aam Aadmi Party has hit back, calling the probe a "politically motivated witch hunt." In a statement, AAP accused the BJP-led government of using state agencies to target opposition leaders instead of focusing on governance. "Six months into power, the BJP has offered no solutions to Delhi's real problems-just endless vendetta politics," the party said, adding, "The functioning model of education and health has been dismantled. Now, instead of delivering on promises like Rs 2,500 to women, they are digging up old files to attack AAP." The party also alleged that civic issues such as power cuts, sewer overflows, and fee hikes in private schools have worsened under the BJP's watch.
