AAP Calls for CBI Inquiry into Alleged Ration Scam Involving Delhi Minister

New Delhi, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : The controversy surrounding a significant ration scam in Delhi’s Food and Civil Supplies Department is intensifying. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has formally requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to expand its inquiry to include Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Saurabh Bhardwaj, the president of AAP’s Delhi unit, has written to the CBI, demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.

The scam involves the procurement of ration from a public sector unit (PSU) in another state. Allegations suggest that 31,000 metric tons of rice were purchased illegally through administrative orders instead of open tenders. This rice was acquired at a heavily subsidized rate of ₹23.20 per kilogram, while the market price stands at approximately ₹46 per kilogram.

Instead of distributing this ration to those in need in Delhi, it is alleged that it was sold to commercial entities in Haryana, such as Utpalakshi Agro Products, Dibeshi Commercials, and Super Grains. This misappropriation has reportedly cost the government ₹13.67 crore weekly, leading to a staggering loss of hundreds of crores over 22 weeks. In his letter, Bhardwaj emphasized that the CBI has only arrested mid-level officials, while the masterminds behind the scheme remain protected.

He argued that if a subordinate officer (Arun Kumar Jha) can be suspended for merely following orders, then the minister, who initiated these illegal directives, should not escape scrutiny. The letter pointed out that when a request surfaced on January 7, 2026, the minister delayed it for months before instructing officials on April 8, 2026, to “positively consider” the illegal proposal.

Following this directive, another allocation of the same quantity of ration was made on May 4, 2026, despite the absence of any accounting or utilization certificate from the first batch. AAP leaders are demanding immediate action from the CBI, including an investigation into Sirsa’s role and his formal inclusion in the FIR (RC 2182026A0014). They also call for the seizure of all official records, routing logs, emails, and digital evidence to prevent tampering. Furthermore, they seek to record statements from all involved based on the confessions of the suspended officer and trace the flow of black money. Notably, the CBI has already initiated a preliminary investigation and confirmed significant fund diversion.