3 weeks ago
Delhi minister Sirsa warns of legal action over rice scam
In Delhi, some politicians are having a big argument about rice.
The government wants to buy cheap rice from a group called the Food Corporation of India to give to poor people.
A political party called AAP says the rice is not going to the poor people.
They say instead, the rice was sold to a company in a nearby state called Haryana for more money.
They think this could be a very big problem worth a lot of money, maybe Rs 22,000 crore.
Another politician, Mr. Sirsa, works for the Delhi government and says the AAP people are not telling the truth.
He says their words are false, made up, and hurtful.
He is giving them one day to say sorry and take back what they said.
If they do not say sorry, he says he will take them to court.
Both sides say they will show their papers so people can decide what is true.
Delhi Food and Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa threatened legal action against Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj and AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha over alleged subsidised rice irregularities.
Bharadwaj claimed a Rs 22,000 crore scam was being planned over three years involving the procurement and distribution of subsidised rice meant for the poor.
He alleged about 31,000 metric tonnes of rice per week were sought from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), with the rice sold to a private company in Haryana instead of reaching beneficiaries.
The rice was allegedly procured at around Rs 23.20 per kg and sold for Rs 46 per kg, yielding a commission of Rs 23 per kg or about Rs 143 crore weekly.
Sirsa gave the AAP leaders 24 hours to withdraw the allegations and issue a public apology, saying the claims were 'baseless, false, fabricated and malicious', while AAP leaders said documents would be made public.
Bharadwaj also alleged that commissions and brokerage in the arrangement amounted to nearly Rs 11,000 crore.
- Who
- Delhi Food and Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj, and AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha
- What
- A political dispute over alleged irregularities in the procurement and distribution of subsidised rice, with Bharadwaj claiming a Rs 22,000 crore scam and Sirsa threatening legal action
- Where
- New Delhi
- When
- Sunday, August 9, 2026
- Why
- Bharadwaj alleged that subsidised rice meant for the poor was diverted and sold to a private company in Haryana, while Sirsa maintains the allegations are baseless and defamatory
AAP: Mega rice scam being planned
BJP/Sirsa: Allegations baseless and defamatory
Validity of the rice scam allegations
AAP: Mega rice scam being planned
AAP claims a Rs 22,000 crore scam was being planned over three years, with subsidised rice meant for the poor being diverted and sold to a private firm in Haryana at a Rs 23 per kg markup, citing the central government's vigilance department.
BJP/Sirsa: Allegations baseless and defamatory
Sirsa says the allegations are 'baseless, false, fabricated and malicious' and denies any irregularity in the government's proposed rice procurement and distribution arrangement.
Motive behind the claims
AAP: Mega rice scam being planned
AAP leaders say they are exposing wrongdoing and will make documents related to the matter public, while seeking clarification from the government on rice procurement and distribution.
BJP/Sirsa: Allegations baseless and defamatory
Sirsa says the campaign appears to be the 'modus operandi' of the two AAP leaders and is intended to defame and malign him.
Key facts
- Alleged scam size
- Rs 22,000 crore over three years
- Alleged weekly scam
- Rs 143 crore per week
- Rice quantity sought
- About 31,000 metric tonnes per week
- Rice price gap alleged
- Procured at ~Rs 23.20/kg, allegedly sold at Rs 46/kg
- Commission alleged
- Rs 23 per kg
- Commissions and brokerage alleged
- Nearly Rs 11,000 crore
- Ultimatum
- 24 hours to withdraw allegations and issue a public apology
- Government involved
- BJP-led Rekha Gupta government in Delhi
Quotes
Manjinder Singh Sirsa
Delhi Minister, spokesperson for the state government
“"I give both Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha 24 hours to withdraw these false allegations and issue a public apology, failing which I shall be constrained to initiate appropriate legal proceedings against both of them and hold them accountable for these malicious acts, apology or will meet in court."”
thestatesman.com
“"The rice, obtained at around Rs 23.20 per kg, was allegedly being sold to a Haryana firm for Rs 46 per kg, resulting in a commission of ₹23 per kg, and this involved the sale of rice worth around ₹22,000 crore with commissions and brokerage amounting to nearly ₹11,000 crore."”
thestatesman.com
thehansindia.com
theprint.in
Sources
‘Apology or will meet in court’: Delhi Minister warns AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj over rice scam allegations
Sirsa warns of legal action against AAP
'Fabricated and malicious': Delhi minister Sirsa warns of legal action against AAP for rice scam allegation
Delhi minister Sirsa warns of legal action after AAP alleges Rs 22,000 crore rice scam plan
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