Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on July 16 stated that Lieutenant-Governor V K Saxena has ordered the Anti-Corruption Branch to investigate an alleged Rs 145-crore scam involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under the Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana, a scheme designed to offer free coaching to marginalised students.
At a joint press conference with Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh, Ashish Sood accused the AAP government of corruption during the COVID-19 period, alleging that a scheme intended for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backwards Classes (OBC) was misused to cover large-scale financial irregularities. He added that the scheme initially promised free coaching for SC/ST students preparing for exams like UPSC, NEET, and JEE.
“Unfortunately, AAP leaders engaged in corruption, which not only disrespects Babasaheb’s vision but also betrays thousands of students who depended on this scheme to build their future,” he said, assuring that those responsible will face consequences.
The Minister cited data showing that while 4,900 students enrolled in 2018 and 2,071 in 2019, the number of students reportedly coached between July 2021 and August 2022 surged sharply. Despite the scheme’s original budget of Rs 15 crore, coaching institutes submitted claims totalling Rs 145 crore.
‘Fake bills’ Allegations
Ashish Sood claimed that while data was submitted for nearly 13,000 students, only 3,000 could be verified, with no supporting documents found for the remainder. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta echoed these charges on X, alleging “serious financial misconduct” during 2020-21. She stated, “The scheme’s budget was only Rs 15 crore, yet the AAP government submitted files with fake bills exceeding Rs 145 crore.”
‘आप’ सरकार द्वारा चलाई जा रही “जय भीम मुख्यमंत्री प्रतिभा विकास योजना” में वर्ष 2021-22 में गंभीर वित्तीय अनियमितताएं सामने आई हैं। इस योजना का बजट सिर्फ ₹15 करोड़ था, लेकिन ‘आप’ सरकार ने लगभग ₹145 करोड़ के फर्ज़ी बिलों वाली फाइलों को आगे बढ़ा दिया।
आम आदमी पार्टी ने दलितों…
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) July 16, 2025
Rekha Gupta further accused the government of submitting claims without proper documentation, using unsigned applications, and some institutions making 100 per cent claims in the names of Dalit students who never actually received coaching.
“AAP has insulted Babasaheb’s ideals and sullied the sacred field of education,” she said, adding that the Anti-Corruption Branch would conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the guilty are held accountable. The Lieutenant Governor’s office has yet to release an official statement.
The scheme, launched in 2018, was designed to assist students from SC, ST, and OBC communities with annual family incomes below Rs 8 lakh. It aimed to offer free coaching for competitive exams such as engineering, medicine, and civil services, with the Delhi government covering the costs.
