President grants sanction for probe against Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain

The sanction was sought under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which mandates prior approval for investigations against public officials. The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) conveyed the President’s decision to ACB on March 11, the people cited above said.

Sisodia was the education minister while Jain was PWD minister in Delhi government when the alleged irregularities took place.

Section 17A, inserted in the Prevention of Corruption Act by the Centre in July 2018 through an amendment, makes it mandatory for police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or any investigative agency dealing with corruption offences to seek prior approval for conducting any “enquiry” or “inquiry” or “investigation” into any corruption-related offences against public officials.