AAP Alleges ₹22,000-Crore Rice Diversion Scam in Delhi, BJP Government Yet to Respond

Mumbai: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday accused the BJP-led Delhi government of being involved in an alleged ₹22,000-crore scam linked to the diversion of subsidised rice meant for poor beneficiaries in the national capital.

Addressing the media through a video message shared on social media, Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that rice procured at subsidised rates for economically weaker sections was allegedly diverted and sold through a chain involving an Assam-based corporation and a private company in Haryana.

According to Bharadwaj, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) supplied rice at subsidised rates after receiving a request from Delhi government’s Food and Civil Supplies Department. He alleged that instead of being distributed among eligible beneficiaries in Delhi, the rice was routed through a corporation based in Assam and eventually sold to a private entity in Haryana.

The former Delhi minister stated that subsidised rice is generally allocated to state governments for distribution among vulnerable groups, including migrant workers, daily wage earners and people without ration cards. He alleged that the intended beneficiaries never received the grain.

Bharadwaj further claimed that the Food and Civil Supplies Department, headed by Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, had sought the supply of large quantities of rice. According to him, approximately 31,000 metric tonnes of rice were requested every week and supplies continued for several weeks.

He alleged that the Assam-based corporation earned substantial commissions through the arrangement, estimating profits of around ₹70 crore per week. Bharadwaj claimed the overall value of the alleged diversion stood at nearly ₹143 crore every week and projected the scam’s value at around ₹22,000 crore over a three-year period.

The AAP leader also alleged that vigilance authorities linked to the central government had detected irregularities in the arrangement, resulting in action against certain individuals. However, he did not provide specific details regarding officials involved or the nature of the action taken.

As of Sunday afternoon, neither the Delhi government nor Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa had issued an official response to the allegations. The Food Corporation of India also did not immediately comment on the claims.

The latest accusation marks the third major corruption allegation levelled by AAP against the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government in recent months. Earlier, the party had alleged irregularities in health department procurements and a bicycle procurement tender for schoolgirls. The BJP government had rejected those allegations.

With political tensions escalating ahead of key civic and administrative decisions in the capital, the latest claims are likely to trigger fresh political confrontation between the AAP and the BJP.

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