2 weeks ago
Satyendar Jain Challenges Delhi Jal Board Tender Case Arrest
Satyendar Jain is a former Delhi minister who has been arrested in a case about government tenders.
The tenders involved work on sewage-treatment plants run by the Delhi Jal Board.
Investigators say the tender rules may have been changed unfairly and that there may have been a conspiracy.
Jain says the important tender was issued in December 2022, after he no longer controlled that ministry.
He also says he was already in custody when the tender was issued.
The Aam Aadmi Party says his arrest was wrongful and politically motivated.
The court was considering whether Jain and the other accused should remain in judicial custody.
Jain’s lawyers said they were prepared to seek bail if the court ordered custody.
Satyendar Jain told a court the disputed tender was floated in December 2022, after he lost the relevant portfolio.
Jain had been relieved of his portfolio following his May 30, 2022, arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
The Anti-Corruption Branch arrested Jain and other accused over alleged irregularities involving Delhi Jal Board sewage-treatment-plant tenders.
The agency alleges manipulated tender conditions and a criminal conspiracy in awarding and executing the contracts.
The Aam Aadmi Party called Jain’s arrest wrongful and politically motivated, while seeking to oppose judicial custody.
- Who
- Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Satyendar Jain, the Anti-Corruption Branch, and other accused.
- What
- Jain was arrested over alleged irregularities in Delhi Jal Board tenders for sewage-treatment-plant projects and challenged the allegations and custody request.
- Where
- The case was heard in court and concerns Delhi Jal Board contracts in Delhi.
- When
- The disputed tender was floated in December 2022; Jain was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Tuesday evening, and the court heard arguments on Wednesday.
- Why
- The Anti-Corruption Branch alleges manipulated tender conditions and criminal conspiracy; Jain and the Aam Aadmi Party dispute the case and his arrest.
Jain and Aam Aadmi Party
Anti-Corruption Branch
Jain’s responsibility for the tender
Jain and Aam Aadmi Party
Jain says he had lost the relevant ministerial portfolio before the tender was floated in December 2022 and was already in custody.
Anti-Corruption Branch
The Anti-Corruption Branch arrested Jain in connection with alleged wrongdoing in the awarding and execution of Delhi Jal Board contracts.
Nature of the arrest
Jain and Aam Aadmi Party
The Aam Aadmi Party calls the arrest wrongful and politically motivated, and alleges it was directed by the Bharatiya Janata Party office; this allegation was not independently established in court.
Anti-Corruption Branch
The Anti-Corruption Branch sought judicial custody of the accused, but the article does not report the agency’s response to the political-motivation allegation.
Tender irregularities
Jain and Aam Aadmi Party
Jain’s defence challenges the allegations and questions the timeline of the alleged wrongdoing.
Anti-Corruption Branch
The Anti-Corruption Branch alleges manipulation of tender conditions and a criminal conspiracy involving sewage-treatment-plant tenders.
Key facts
- Disputed tender
- The tender was floated in December 2022, according to Jain’s court submission.
- Jain’s portfolio
- He said he no longer held the relevant portfolio when the tender was issued.
- Earlier arrest
- The Enforcement Directorate arrested Jain on May 30, 2022, in a money-laundering case.
- Time in custody
- Jain remained in jail for nearly 22 months, according to the report.
- Current case
- The Anti-Corruption Branch alleges irregularities in Delhi Jal Board sewage-treatment-plant tenders.
- Court proceedings
- The Anti-Corruption Branch sought judicial custody for the accused except one person.
- AAP position
- The Aam Aadmi Party called the arrest completely wrongful and politically motivated.
Quotes
Sanju V. Nasir
AAP Legal Cell head and AAP lawyer
“"completely wrongful"”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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