New Delhi : AAP leader and former Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has levelled fresh allegations against the Delhi government, claiming that a proposed arrangement involving subsidised rice could have caused losses of nearly ₹22,000 crore over three years.

In a post on X, Bharadwaj alleged that the Delhi government and an Assam-based corporation had approached the Food Corporation of India (FCI) seeking heavily subsidised rice, ostensibly for distribution among economically weaker sections in Delhi.

Bharadwaj claimed that around 31,000 metric tonnes of rice per week was sought under the arrangement. He alleged that instead of reaching eligible beneficiaries, the subsidised grain was diverted and sold to a private company in Haryana for profit.

According to the AAP leader, the alleged arrangement could have resulted in a financial impact of around ₹143 crore every week. He claimed that over a three-year period, the figure could have reached nearly ₹22,000 crore.

Bharadwaj also alleged that the Assam-based corporation could have earned a commission of approximately ₹70 crore every week, amounting to around ₹11,000 crore over three years.

He further claimed that the Delhi government’s Food and Supplies Department had written to the FCI seeking the weekly supply of 31,000 metric tonnes of rice for the Assam-based corporation. Bharadwaj alleged that the grain was intended for commercial gain rather than distribution to poor and eligible beneficiaries.

The AAP leader also claimed that the alleged irregularities had been flagged by the Central government’s vigilance department and shared a video outlining his allegations.

However, the claims remain allegations and have not been independently established based on the information currently available. The Delhi government and other authorities concerned have not been quoted responding to the charges in the supplied report.

Any official response, investigation, audit findings or documentary evidence would be necessary to establish whether subsidised rice was actually diverted or whether any financial loss occurred.

The allegations have added a fresh political dimension to the wider debate over subsidised foodgrain distribution and the implementation of welfare schemes in Delhi.