The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has registered a case against former Public Works Department (PWD) minister and senior AAP leader Satyendar Jain. The case relates to alleged corruption in a ₹571-crore CCTV installation project in Delhi.

According to Joint Commissioner of Police (ACB) Madhur Verma, Jain is accused of unfairly waiving a penalty of ₹16 crore that was imposed on Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for delays in installing CCTV cameras across Delhi. Officials claim that this waiver was granted in exchange for a ₹7 crore bribe.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered on Tuesday after receiving approval from the concerned authorities under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The ACB is now investigating the case to uncover further details.

Apart from the CCTV project allegations of corruption have also surfaced regarding the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools. A report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), dated February 17, 2020, pointed out major financial irregularities in this project, which was handled by the PWD.

In July 2019, BJP leader Harish Khurana and former AAP MLA Kapil Mishra who is now a minister in the Delhi government filed a police complaint about the issue. The complaint alleged that a scam worth over ₹2,000 crore had taken place in the construction of classrooms and school buildings.

An ACB report revealed that the Delhi government spent ₹2,892.65 crore on constructing around 12,748 classrooms. The cost per square foot was allegedly ₹8,800 while the normal market rate for such construction was around ₹1,500 per square foot.

Similarly the cost of constructing a single classroom as per the government contract

was ₹24.86 lakh. But in Delhi similar classrooms have been built for approximately ₹5 lakh each which means that the actual cost was inflated almost five times leading to significant financial losses to the public.

As per ACB reports this money was diverted from public funds under the pretense of construction costs ultimately defrauding taxpayers. The investigation aims to determine the extent of the corruption and those responsible for the misuse of funds.

The ACB is expected to summon individuals involved in both cases for questioning. If proven guilty legal action will be taken against those responsible for financial irregularities in these projects. The investigation is ongoing and more details will emerge as authorities continue their probe.

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