Latest news with #POCAct
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Classroom case: Probe said to focus on Jain; Sisodia's role also under scanner
Former Public Works Department (PWD) minister Satyendar Jain is the primary focus of the investigation being carried out by Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) into the alleged irregularities in the construction of classrooms, while formed deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is being probed for giving post-facto approval to the project, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday. Jain has been summoned to appear before the bureau on June 6, and Sisodia on June 9. Both Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders are to be questioned at the ACB's office in central Delhi. Senior ACB officials said the investigation was launched based on statements by contractors and architects, many of whom have pointed to Jain's direct involvement in procedural lapses and financial mismanagement. 'We will be able to make a definitive statement on their roles only after the probe is complete and the charge sheet is filed,' said one official. As for Sisodia, investigators said he granted post-facto approval for the project in 2018-19—nearly three years after the construction was completed. He also allotted deposit work for the project, a move that may not in itself be criminal, but is under scrutiny. 'Post-facto approvals are retroactive decisions often taken without prior sanction. Similarly, in deposit work, one department provides funds to another, and execution is the latter's responsibility. These are procedural acts. But we are probing deeper to determine if his actions were merely procedural or indicative of culpability,' said an investigator, requesting anonymity. According to ACB, the alleged irregularities occurred during the AAP government's drive to expand classroom infrastructure in Delhi's government-run schools. The case concerns the construction of 12,748 semi-permanent classrooms across multiple school campuses. The project was initially valued at ₹860 crore, but subsequent cost escalations—largely carried out without fresh tenders or adherence to procurement norms—brought the total to over ₹2,800 crore. ACB's April 30 FIR names both Jain and Sisodia and invokes Section 13(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with IPC Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy), following clearance under Section 17-A of the POC Act. Summons issued to the two leaders cite their roles in the decision-making process and ask them to provide written submissions and supporting documents. 'Allegations have been levelled against several then-government functionaries, including you by name... Non-compliance with this notice may attract legal proceedings,' the notice reads. Both Jain and Sisodia have denied wrongdoing in earlier public statements. Officials said a key part of the investigation is focused on how consultants and architects were appointed without following Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines or the CPWD Works Manual. Cost escalations were allegedly pushed through by these consultants without inviting fresh bids, thereby bypassing competitive tendering. A senior official involved in the probe said, 'Contracts worth ₹860 crore were awarded, and then inflated by up to 90%, eventually reaching nearly ₹2,892 crore. A sum of ₹205 crore from this escalation was for what were termed 'richer specifications'—upgrades that had no financial justification or transparency.' Investigators further allege that although the classrooms were built as semi-permanent structures (SPS)—designed to last about 30 years—the cost per classroom averaged ₹24.86 lakh, nearly five times the market cost of ₹5 lakh per room. 'That figure is comparable to what would be expected for fully reinforced concrete (RCC) buildings with a lifespan of 75 years,' said one official. 'No justification was provided for why SPS was chosen over permanent structures if the cost was almost the same.' Another revelation that has drawn serious concern is the concealment of a report by the Chief Technical Examiner (CTE) of the CVC. The report, issued in February 2020, flagged several procurement violations and showed how amendments made after contracts were awarded contributed to massive financial losses. However, it was allegedly kept under wraps for nearly three years. The investigation was prompted by complaints filed by BJP leaders, who alleged that the AAP government manipulated costs and procedures to favour select contractors.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
FIR filed against Sisodia, Jain in Rs 2,000 crore classroom construction scam
NEW DELHI: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has registered a case against former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and ex-PWD minister Satyendra Jain alleging corruption in construction of classrooms at exorbitant costs, officials said on Wednesday. According to the ACB, a scam of Rs 2,000 crore unearthed in the construction of 12,748 classrooms/buildings during the tenure of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi. The complaints from Harish Khurana, Delhi BJP spokesperson, MLA Kapil Mishra, and BJP's media relations depart Neelkanth Bakshi, were received regarding corruption in construction of around 12,748 school classrooms at an expenditure of Rs 2,892 crore. The lump sum cost for constructing one school room, as per the awarded tenders, was around Rs. 24.86 lakh per room, whereas such rooms could ordinarily be constructed in Delhi for around Rs five lakh per room. Further, it was alleged that the project was awarded to 34 contractors, majority of whom are allegedly associated with AAP, Joint Commissioner of Police (ACB) Madhur Verma said. During verification, it was revealed that in the meetings of expenditure finance committee for 2015-16, it was decided that the project would be completed by June 2016 at the sanctioned cost, without any scope for future cost escalations. However, despite these directions, even a single work was not completed within the prescribed time period and significant deviations and cost escalations were observed, Verma said. During inquiry, it was revealed that the examination report of Chief Technical Examiner, Central Vigilance Commission, in the instant matter was issued on February 17, 2020 with the approval of the competent authority, however, the report was suppressed for about three years. The report of CTE/CVC raised serious violations of various clauses of the CPWD works manual 2014 GFR 2017, CVC guidelines and other irregularities and also alleged that various decisions taken after the award of tenders were not in accordance with the laid guidelines of CVC and other manuals which lead to huge escalation of cost resulting in financial loss, the officer said. CVC report also observed that ultimately the actual cost of the constructed SPS was more or less equal to the cost of permanent structures. It was observed that the tenders were floated and contracts were awarded for Rs 860.63 crore. Subsequently, contract values escalated by 17 per cent to 90 per cent due to richer specifications. The escalation amounted to Rs 326.25 crore, of which Rs 205.45 crore was attributable to richer specifications, comprising 23.87 per cent of the award value. No fresh tenders were invited to reflect these changes, contrary to CVC guidelines. In five schools, work worth Rs. 42.5 crore was executed without proper tenders, using existing contracts, they said. The competent authority has accorded its approval in filing a case under section 17-A of POC Act. A comprehensive investigation has been launched to unearth whole conspiracy and fix the role and culpability of the alleged ministers, known/unknown government officials/contractors, they added.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Classroom construction irregularities: ACB case against AAP's Sisodia, Satyendar
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Wednesday registered a case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain over alleged corruption in the construction of 12,748 classrooms in Delhi government schools, officials said on Wednesday. According to ACB officials, the case pegged at ₹2,000 crore, during the AAP's tenure in Delhi, involves alleged irregularities in the construction of 12,748 classrooms at government schools. The probe was initiated after several complaints by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. 'The case pertains to awarding contracts at inflated costs, procedural violations, and cost escalations that were allegedly engineered to benefit contractors linked to the party. The construction was ostensibly aimed at expanding classroom capacity in government-run schools, but our investigations revealed that each classroom was constructed at an average cost of ₹24.86 lakh—nearly five times the market rate of around ₹5 lakh per room. Though the classrooms were built as semi-permanent structures (SPS), which typically have a 30-year lifespan, the cost was nearly equivalent to that of fully reinforced concrete (RCC) structures with a 75-year lifespan. Surprisingly, no financial justification was given for opting for SPS over permanent structures,' said joint commissioner of police Madhur Verma, who is also the ACB chief. Also Read: Atishi says BJP scared of AAP, links CBI raids on Durgesh Pathak to Gujarat polls He further said that it was also revealed during investigation that consultants and architects were appointed without following due procedures, and cost escalations were carried out through them without seeking new tenders, violating guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) works manual. 'Contracts initially worth ₹860 crore were inflated by up to 90%, eventually touching ₹2,892 crore. A staggering ₹205 crore of this escalation was due to 'richer specifications'—a term the agency has used to describe upgrades that lacked transparent financial rationale. A critical report by the Chief Technical Examiner (CTE) of the CVC was also kept hidden for nearly three years. Issued in February 2020, the report flagged multiple violations of procurement norms and highlighted how changes made post-tender awards led to a massive cost escalation and financial loss,' Verma said. 'Following approval under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption (POC) Act from the competent authority, the ACB has filed an FIR (No. 31/2025) under Section 13(1) of the POC Act, read with IPC Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). A comprehensive investigation is now underway to determine the culpability of both the ministers, government officials, and contractors involved in the project,' added the ACB chief. A comment from AAP is awaited and the copy will be updated whenever it is received.
News18
30-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
FIR Filed Against AAP's Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain In Rs 2,000 Crore Classroom Scam
Last Updated: The former Delhi ministers are accused of orchestrating massive scam amounting to Rs 2,000 crores during the construction of classrooms under the AAP regime in the capital. The Anti-Corruption Branch has registered a case against AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, along with former Delhi PWD Minister Satyendar Jain, over allegations of corruption related to the construction of classrooms at excessively high costs. It has been learnt that the former Delhi ministers are accused of orchestrating massive scam amounting to Rs 2,000 crores during the construction of 12,748 classrooms/buildings under the AAP regime in the national capital. The agency said significant irregularities and cost escalations were observed across the entire project. 'Not a single work was completed within the prescribed timeframe," an official release said, adding that consultants and architects were appointed without following due procedure. A case was registered after obtaining permission under section 17-A of the POC Act from the competent authority. Both Sisodia and Jain have been under scrutiny in separate corruption cases over the past year. While Sisodia is already under the radar of the CBI and ED in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, Jain was previously arrested in a money laundering case.
