Allegations of Massive Corruption in Delhi School Infrastructure Project Raise Concerns Over Procurement Practices in Education Sector
In a case that casts a long shadow over public sector procurement in education, Delhi&rsquo;s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has formally registered a case against former Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia, as well as former Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satyendar Jain. The case pertains to a wide-ranging scam involving the construction of classrooms at inflated costs during the tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
According to the ACB&rsquo;s findings, the alleged irregularities centre on the construction of 12,748 classrooms and school buildings, with the estimated value of the scam reaching an eye-watering ₹2,000 crore. At the heart of the controversy is the decision to construct semi-permanent structures (SPS) with a lifespan of around 30 years, at costs typically associated with more durable reinforced cement concrete (RCC) buildings, which last approximately 75 years. Notably, investigators have pointed out there was no clear financial advantage in opting for SPS over RCC construction.
The execution of the project was reportedly awarded to 34 contractors, several of whom are believed to have close affiliations with the AAP. The probe suggests that not only were the contracts beset by significant cost escalations and deviations from sanctioned plans, but also that none of the classroom construction projects met their original deadlines. Further, the appointment of consultants and architects allegedly bypassed established procedures, enabling cost inflation through design and specification upgrades.
A crucial report by the Chief Technical Examiner (CTE) of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), dated 17 February 2020, had raised alarm bells, flagging a multitude of procedural violations and financial irregularities. However, this report was reportedly suppressed for nearly three years, delaying accountability.
The CTE&rsquo;s findings pointed to contraventions of several provisions outlined in the CPWD Works Manual 2014, the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017, and the CVC&rsquo;s own post-tender guidelines. These breaches, particularly in decision-making after tender awards, are said to have directly contributed to inflated project costs and subsequent public financial loss.
The matter gained further traction following formal complaints from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Harish Khurana, MLA Kapil Mishra, and Neelkanth Bakshi. Their submissions alleged that the classroom construction costs ballooned to ₹2,892 crore, averaging ₹24.86 lakh per classroom&mdash;substantially higher than the expected ₹5 lakh per room under typical construction norms in Delhi.
The CVC report further revealed that the cost per square foot for SPS classrooms was ₹2,292&mdash;on par with permanent pucca structures, which range between ₹2,044 and ₹2,416 per square foot. Richer construction specifications were reportedly adopted without any justifiable cost-benefit rationale, thereby undermining the supposed budget-conscious nature of SPS construction.
The financial imprudence is also reflected in government records. During FY 2015&ndash;16, the Expenditure Finance Committee had greenlit the project under strict timelines and cost-control stipulations, mandating completion by June 2016 with no scope for escalation. Despite this, the contract values were reportedly increased by 17 to 90 per cent, adding ₹326.25 crore to the project cost&mdash;including ₹205.45 crore solely on account of higher-grade specifications.
Perhaps most alarmingly, no fresh tenders were floated to accommodate these substantial changes, in direct violation of CVC norms. In at least five instances, construction worth ₹42.5 crore was allegedly carried out using existing contracts without any formal tendering process.
The allegations raise serious questions about the governance and integrity of public procurement in education infrastructure projects. With India striving to modernise its education system and improve public schooling outcomes, such instances of systemic corruption&mdash;if proven&mdash;highlight a grave betrayal of public trust and a significant setback to education reform efforts.
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Manish Sisodia and former chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

CVC flagged violations, inflated costs, and no tenders in AAP-era school building contracts

Classroom Scam: ₹2,000 Cr Fraud in Delhi Schools

CVC flagged violations, inflated costs, and no tenders in AAP-era school building contracts

April 30, 2025 | 13:05 IST