A flagship welfare scheme meant to uplift underprivileged students has now become the centre of a major political storm and corruption probe in Delhi.
Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has ordered an Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) investigation into an alleged ₹145-crore scam linked to the Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana. The scheme, originally launched in 2018 under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, was designed to provide free coaching to SC/ST, OBC, EWS, and minority students preparing for competitive exams such as UPSC, NEET, CLAT, and SSC.
However, questions are now being raised about large-scale financial irregularities during the pandemic years, particularly between July 2021 and August 2022.
The Allegations
Delhi’s Home and Education Minister Ashish Sood, alongside SC/ST Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh, laid out serious allegations against the previous AAP-led administration.
“The Jai Bhim scheme was intended to empower students from disadvantaged communities,” said Sood. “But during the Covid period, it seems to have become a vehicle for embezzlement. Coaching institutes submitted claims worth ₹145 crore—nearly ten times the scheme’s original budget of ₹15 crore.”
According to the ministers, of the roughly 13,000 student claims submitted by coaching centres, only around 3,000 could be verified. The rest reportedly lacked essential documentation such as attendance records, identity proof, or even student signatures.
“To put this into perspective,” Sood explained, “even if all 3,000 verified students had received IAS coaching at ₹1 lakh each—the highest category of coaching covered—it would still only amount to ₹30 crore. So how did the total reach ₹145 crore?”
Spotlight on 35 Coaching Centres
The probe will focus initially on 35 private coaching centres that allegedly failed to provide verifiable records for even 100 students. Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh emphasized that while the scheme was introduced with noble intentions—to increase educational access for Dalit and underprivileged students—it appears to have been manipulated for profit.
“This scheme was about giving a fighting chance to those who face systemic barriers,” Singh said. “Instead, it seems to have become a money-making racket. We owe it to these students and their families to ensure accountability.”
The investigation was greenlit after Delhi’s newly appointed Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, recommended a full probe. The Lieutenant Governor subsequently approved the ACB’s involvement.
What Happens Next?
The ACB will now begin its investigation into the alleged misuse of funds, with a focus on documentation, payment trails, and institute verification. The probe could have significant political and legal ramifications, especially if criminal wrongdoing is uncovered.
Meanwhile, many are calling for transparency and a balanced inquiry—urging that genuine beneficiaries not be caught in the crossfire of political battles.
As the probe unfolds, the fate of a scheme once celebrated for its inclusivity now hangs in the balance, clouded by controversy and claims of corruption.