Manish Sisodia summoned again in Rs 2,000-crore classroom construction scam

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has issued a second summons to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000-crore classroom construction scam.

Earlier, Sisodia was supposed to be questioned at the ACB office on Monday, but didn't appear before officials for personal reasons.

Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, who is an accused in the scam, was summoned on June 6 and questioned by the ACB.

The ACB had filed an FIR against Jain and Sisodia in the scam on April 30, alleging that the construction of 12,748 classrooms and buildings under the previous AAP government in Delhi was done at highly inflated costs. Sisodia was the Education Minister in the AAP regime while Jain held the Public Works Department (PWD) portfolio.

While lodging the FIR, the ACB said that "significant deviations and cost escalations" were noticed, but not a "single work was completed within the prescribed period". "Consultant and architect (were) appointed without following due procedure, and cost escalations were carried out through him. (The) case registered after receiving permission from the competent authority," it added.

The ACB alleged that the classrooms were constructed at an increased rate of Rs 8,800 per square foot despite the common knowledge that the average cost, even for residential flats, was nearly Rs 1,500 per square foot.

It said the overall cost of building each classroom, according to the awarded tender, was approximately Rs 24.86 lakh, whereas similar rooms can generally be constructed in the national capital for around Rs 5 lakh each.

The case came to light in 2022, following the Delhi government's vigilance directorate recommending an investigation into the alleged scam during Sisodia and Jain's tenures in the AAP government, and submitting a report to the Chief Secretary.

The FIR against them was filed in April after President Droupadi Murmu gave her nod to the prosecution in March this year.