Latest news with #Sisodia
Hindustan Times
18 hours 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.
Scroll.in
a day ago
- Business
- Scroll.in
AAP's Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain summoned in construction scam case
The Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Delhi government on Tuesday summoned Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in connection with an alleged scam in the construction of schools and classrooms in the national capital, The Indian Express reported. On April 30, the anti-corruption branch had filed a case against Sisodia and Jain in the alleged scam, which pertains to the construction of 12,748 classrooms in Delhi government schools at an inflated cost. While Jain was summoned on June 6, Sisodia was asked to visit the bureau office on June 9, India Today reported. After the summonses were issued, AAP said that the alleged scam was a 'calculated political ploy' by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. 'They are weaponising institutions to attack AAP leaders and create a false narrative,' The Indian Express quoted the party as saying. 'When the Aam Aadmi Party held power in Delhi, the BJP systematically defanged the ACB [Anti-Corruption Bureau] to strip it of any real authority.' The BJP was 'using the same weakened institution as a tool to target AAP leaders and further their own agenda', the statement added. In 2019, BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Harish Khurana and Neelkant Bakshi had filed a complaint claiming that there were financial irregularities in the construction of classrooms in government schools in three zones of the national capital, according to The Indian Express. While Sisodia held the finance and education ministries at the time, Jain was in charge of the public works department, which oversaw the construction. The complaint stated that the construction cost was about Rs 24.8 lakh per room, higher than the roughly Rs 5 lakh it took for similar constructions in the national capital. The project was awarded to 34 contractors, several of them linked to the AAP, it claimed. The newspaper also quoted unidentified Anti-Corruption Bureau officials as saying that the 12,748 semi-permanent structures were supposed to be built at a cost of Rs 1,200 per sq ft. However, the cost increased to about Rs 2,292 per sq ft during construction, the officials added. An audit by the Central Vigilance Commission found that 63 tenders were floated and awarded at Rs 860 crore, The Indian Express had reported earlier. Deviations from the awarded amount 'to the tune of 17% to 90%' were observed, resulting in 'escalation of cost up to Rs 326.2 crore'. Work amounting to Rs 42.5 crore was allegedly 'executed without proper tender through the existing contract of another school' and 1,214 toilet blocks were built with 'extra expenditure of Rs 37 crore', the newspaper had reported. Madhur Verma, joint commissioner of police, had earlier confirmed the filing of the FIR, The Indian Express reported. 'The chief technical examiner's report of the Central Vigilance Commission pointed out several anomalies in the project, and the report was kept under the carpet for about three years,' the newspaper quoted him as having said. In 2022, the vigilance directorate of the Delhi government recommended an investigation into the alleged scam and submitted a report to the chief secretary. On March 13, the Union home ministry granted sanction to prosecute Sisodia and Jain under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the alleged scam. President Droupadi Murmu had also approved the registration of an FIR against the two Aam Aadmi Party leaders. Sisodia had in March rejected the allegations, saying that he and other AAP leaders including Jain, Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi would 'not bow down' before the BJP.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain summoned over ₹2,000 crore 'scam' in classroom construction
The Delhi Government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has summoned AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain over alleged graft in the construction of classrooms in government schools, an official said on Wednesday. Mr. Jain has been asked to appear before the ACB on June 6, while Mr. Sisodia has been summoned for questioning on June 9, he said. The summons come after the ACB registered an FIR on April 30 based on allegations of financial irregularities to the tune of ₹2,000 crore in the construction of over 12,000 classrooms or semi-permanent structures in Delhi Government schools. Officials said Mr. Sisodia, who held the finance and education portfolios of the previous AAP Government in the national capital, and Mr. Jain, then in charge of the public works department and other ministries, are being questioned in connection with alleged lapses flagged by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). 'The CVC's Chief Technical Examiner's report pointed out multiple anomalies in the project. The report was allegedly not acted upon for nearly three years,' Joint Commissioner of Police (ACB) Madhur Verma said. The FIR was registered after obtaining approval under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act from the competent authority, Mr. Verma added. In 2019, BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Harish Khurana and Neelkant Bakshi had filed a complaint with the ACB, alleging serious financial irregularities in the construction of classrooms across three zones of Delhi. According to the complaint, the average cost per classroom was pegged at ₹24.86 lakh — significantly higher than the estimated ₹5 lakh cost for similar structures. An investigation is currently underway, and further action will be taken based on findings from the ongoing inquiry, officials said.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Sisodia slams BJP over demolition of slums
New Delhi: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Delhi, accusing it of targeting slum dwellers and betraying its pre-election promises. Addressing a press briefing, Sisodia alleged that since coming to power, the BJP-led administration has prioritized the demolition of slum settlements rather than fulfilling its commitment to provide housing. 'The BJP had promised to offer homes where the slums exist, but that promise has turned out to be an empty slogan,' he said. Referring to the recent demolition of the Madrasi Camp in the Jangpura Assembly constituency, Sisodia said hundreds of families, including labourers, domestic workers, rickshaw pullers, and daily wage earners—who contribute to the functioning of the capital—have been rendered homeless. 'The very people who power the city with their hard work are being displaced with bulldozers,' he stated. Sisodia questioned the silence and absence of elected representatives during these demolitions. 'Where are the MLAs now? The people are not getting any answers. Even the basic facilities of water and electricity are being taken away, along with the roofs over their heads,' he said. 'Is this what is meant by 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'?' According to Sisodia, the slum dwellers shared with him their deep anguish. Many of them, he noted, have lived in these settlements for over five decades. 'Even the alternative housing provided is far from their original locations, disrupting lives and livelihoods,' he added. He also highlighted the plight of vulnerable groups. 'There are elderly people, children, and women who are the sole breadwinners in their families. Many earn a living through domestic work like cleaning and mopping. They cannot afford rent, nor do they have anywhere else to go.'
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain summoned over Rs 2,000 crore 'scam' in classroom construction
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has summoned AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain over alleged graft in the construction of classrooms in government schools, an official said on Wednesday. Jain has been asked to appear before the ACB on June 6, while Sisodia has been summoned for questioning on June 9, he said. The summons come after an FIR was registered by the ACB on April 30 based on allegations of financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore in the construction of over 12,000 classrooms or semi-permanent structures in Delhi government schools. Officials said Sisodia, who held the finance and education portfolios of the previous AAP government in the national capital, and Jain, then in charge of the public works department and other ministries, are being questioned in connection with alleged lapses flagged by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
