President Droupadi Murmu has granted sanction to Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to initiate a formal probe against former Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain over alleged irregularities in the construction of school classrooms and buildings by the Delhi government.
Sisodia, who previously held the education portfolio, and Jain, the former Public Works Department (PWD) minister, are under scrutiny after a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report dated February 17, 2020, highlighted “glaring irregularities” in the construction of over 2,400 classrooms in government schools.
Corruption Allegations and Investigation
The CVC’s report pointed to discrepancies in the project, leading to the Delhi government’s vigilance directorate recommending an investigation in 2022. The findings were later submitted to the chief secretary for further action.
Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Section 17A—amended by the Centre in July 2018—requires law enforcement agencies such as the police, CBI, or ACB to obtain prior approval before conducting any inquiry or investigation into corruption-related offences involving public servants.
Satyendar Jain’s Money Laundering Case
This is not the first time Jain has faced legal trouble. On February 18, President Murmu approved prosecution sanction against him in a money laundering case investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Ministry of Home Affairs had sought the sanction based on the ED’s findings, which reportedly included “adequate proof” of financial misconduct.
According to a 2018 chargesheet filed by the CBI, Jain allegedly amassed disproportionate assets worth ₹1.47 crore between 2015-17, exceeding his known sources of income by approximately 217%. The ED’s investigation further revealed that four companies controlled by Jain received ₹4.81 crore in hawala transactions from shell companies in Kolkata during 2015-16.
Political Fallout
The fresh corruption probe comes amid a string of legal challenges for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has consistently denied allegations against its leaders, calling them politically motivated. While Sisodia and Jain have yet to respond to the latest developments, the case is likely to intensify the ongoing legal and political battles involving the Delhi government.
With the President’s sanction in place, the ACB is now set to formally investigate the alleged financial irregularities linked to the school construction project. The case is expected to unfold in the coming months, shedding more light on the alleged misuse of government funds.
Sources By Agencies
