Jolt For Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain! Home Ministry Approves Prosecution in Corruption Cases

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the prosecution of former Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, intensifying legal scrutiny over alleged corruption in the Education and Public Works Departments (PWD) during their tenure.

The nod, granted under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, revives a 2021 request from Delhi’s Vigilance Department, signaling fresh trouble for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders.

The approval, forwarded to Lt Governor V.K. Saxena’s Secretariat, clears the way for questioning Sisodia and Jain, who each spent over 17 months in jail on separate corruption and money laundering charges tied to the excise policy and shell companies.

Both, out on bail, recently lost their seats in the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, won decisively by the BJP. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has vowed to probe all alleged corruption under the previous AAP regime.

The case stems from a 2020 Vigilance report alleging “glaring irregularities” in the construction of 2,405 classrooms across 193 Delhi government schools, costing Rs 1,300 crore. Ordered by then-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2015, the project ballooned after a PWD survey claimed a need for 7,180 classrooms—nearly triple the initial plan.

Costs soared by up to 90% due to “richer specifications,” with Rs 500 crore sanctioned without tenders. The Vigilance wing flagged procedural lapses, tender tampering, and cost overruns, recommending accountability for Education and PWD officials.

The MHA’s move marks a significant escalation in the BJP’s push against AAP’s legacy.