AAP in more trouble: President gives nod to lodge FIR against Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain in ₹1,300 crore classroom scam

Delhi Classroom Scam: In a major breakthrough for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), party president Draupadi Murmu has given her nod to lodge an FIR against senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in connection with the alleged ₹1,300 crore classroom scam, sources said on Wednesday.

The fraud is linked to financial malpractices in the construction of Delhi government school classrooms when Sisodia and Jain were ministers. The allegations suggest widespread corruption in the project, which was handled by the Public Works Department (PWD) of the AAP-led Delhi government.

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The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in its February 17, 2020 report exposed “gross irregularities” in the construction of over 2,400 classrooms in Delhi government schools. The report claimed excessive expenditure, inflated prices of projects and deviation from norms in the tender process. Subsequently, in 2022, the Delhi government’s vigilance directorate suggested a probe into the issue and submitted its report to the chief secretary.

The approval of the FIR against Sisodia and Jain has increased the legal woes for the AAP leadership. Manish Sisodia, who was earlier the deputy chief minister and education minister, is already under legal scrutiny in the Delhi liquor policy case. Similarly, former health minister Satyendar Jain has been involved in various legal cases, including money laundering charges.

The government’s recent move is likely to increase political tensions between the AAP and the central government. AAP leaders have often accused the ruling BJP of employing investigative agencies for political vendetta, and they are set to level the charge again in the backdrop of these developments.

So far the AAP leadership has not made any official comment on the President signing the FIR. However, sources say the party is preparing a strong legal and political counter-attack. The case is likely to trigger a fresh wave of political confrontation, with the AAP sticking to its governance record while the opposition steps up its attack on the party’s credibility. More details about the FIR and subsequent legal action are expected to be seen. The next few days could prove to be decisive in determining the future course of action of the AAP and its embattled leaders.