What Is The 'Delhi Classroom Construction Scam'? News18 Accesses ED Probe Details

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Last Updated:June 18, 2025, 17:39 IST

According to ED, the scandal involves significant financial irregularities and alleged corruption in the construction of additional classrooms in government schools under AAP

Although the project aimed to enhance public education facilities, the construction costs reportedly far exceeded standard government benchmarks and were even likened to the expenses of building luxury establishments. (Representational image)

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday raided multiple premises in the national capital as part of a money laundering probe into the “classroom construction scam" that is alleged to have taken place during the previous Aam Aadmi Party government, official sources said. CNN-News18 has obtained details from the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation.

According to the agency, the scandal involves significant financial irregularities and alleged corruption in the construction of additional classrooms in government schools during the Aam Aadmi Party’s tenure in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) from 2015-16 to 2022-23.

The initiative, initially aimed at upgrading educational infrastructure, encompassed two major projects classified as Priority-1 and Priority-2, which focused on improving the student-to-classroom ratio in existing school premises.

“Unfortunately, the implementation of these projects was marred by inflated costs, procedural lapses, and the misuse of public funds," the findings say.

Although the project aimed to enhance public education facilities, the construction costs reportedly far exceeded standard government benchmarks and were even likened to the expenses of building luxury establishments.

“The scam underscores overestimations in project valuations, manipulation of tendering processes, bypassing General Financial Rules, and awarding contracts at inflated rates, indicative of systematic abuse of power," say the findings.

The ED had booked Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and former ministers in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, in its April 30 FIR, where it was alleged that 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 were carried out.