New Delhi, August 2026: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj has demanded that Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister order an immediate investigation into the alleged rice scam and dismiss Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa from the Delhi Cabinet.
Bharadwaj alleged that rice meant to be distributed among poor people in Delhi was obtained from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) by an Assam-based corporation named Niramac, but was subsequently sold to a Haryana-based company at nearly twice the price instead of being distributed to the intended beneficiaries.
He claimed that FCI released the rice following repeated correspondence by Arun Kumar Jha, Additional Commissioner in Sirsa's department. Jha was subsequently suspended. According to Bharadwaj, Jha stated in his written response to a show-cause notice that the correspondence with FCI was undertaken after discussions with and instructions from Minister Sirsa.
Bharadwaj questioned why an officer allegedly acting on the minister's instructions had been suspended while no action had been taken against the minister.
Speaking at a press conference at the AAP headquarters on Thursday, Bharadwaj said Sirsa had recently told the Delhi Assembly that he routinely receives letters from legislators and other individuals and merely forwards them to officials. Bharadwaj argued that the circumstances surrounding the rice case required a closer examination of the minister's role.
According to Bharadwaj, Niramac had written to Sirsa seeking permission to purchase rice from FCI's Delhi stock under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). He said the request was intended to provide rice to ordinary residents, daily-wage workers, migrant labourers and others who were outside the Public Distribution System.
Bharadwaj alleged that the communication went beyond a routine forwarding of correspondence. He said Sirsa forwarded Niramac's request to the Additional Commissioner with directions that it be considered positively in accordance with applicable rules and provisions.
He further claimed that the matter continued for several weeks, with approximately 31,000 metric tonnes of rice involved. According to him, after a complaint reached the Centre's vigilance authorities, the Food and Civil Supplies Department issued a show-cause notice to Additional Commissioner Arun Kumar Jha and subsequently suspended him.
Bharadwaj alleged that departmental records showed Jha had not merely forwarded the proposal. On April 8, 2026, he reportedly sent an email to FCI stating that the Delhi government had no objection and that the organisation could be permitted to purchase the rice. Further communications were allegedly sent on April 13, 16 and 17, requesting release of the rice after payment had been deposited.
The AAP leader said the matter resurfaced on May 4, when Niramac allegedly wrote to Sirsa stating that it had received 31,000 metric tonnes of rice and sought additional supplies. Sirsa, Bharadwaj claimed, again forwarded the communication to the Additional Commissioner for consideration. Subsequent correspondence with FCI allegedly followed on May 11, 14 and 15.
Bharadwaj also cited Jha's response to the departmental notice, claiming that the suspended officer repeatedly referred to discussions with and instructions from Sirsa before communications were sent to FCI.
The AAP leader alleged that the department's notice itself raised questions about the legality of the officer's actions and described the recommendations made to FCI as unauthorised. He argued that if the officer's actions were considered improper, the minister's alleged role in directing those actions should also be investigated.
Bharadwaj questioned why Sirsa did not seek details about the distribution of the 31,000 metric tonnes of rice before forwarding the second request. He asked where the rice, equivalent to about 3.1 crore kilograms, had been distributed and through which channels.
He alleged that such a large quantity would have required extensive documentation and distribution arrangements and maintained that the minister should have sought clarification before approving or forwarding the request again.
Bharadwaj demanded that Sirsa be removed from the Cabinet and that criminal proceedings be initiated if an investigation establishes wrongdoing.
The allegations made by the AAP leader concern serious claims of procedural violations, irregular procurement and diversion of foodgrains. The matter is expected to remain a political flashpoint as questions are raised over the chain of approvals, the role of officials and the eventual destination of the rice.
