Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has criticised the arrest of former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, alleging that the action is politically motivated.
Jain was arrested by the Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on August 18 along with five others in a case linked to alleged irregularities in the tendering process for projects of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
Kejriwal said Jain had faced jail earlier in what he described as a false case and claimed that the latest allegations would also ultimately be proved wrong.
Kejriwal Accuses BJP Of Targeting Opposition
Kejriwal questioned the BJP over what he described as the use of government agencies against opposition leaders. He alleged that political opponents were being targeted through cases and arrests.
According to Kejriwal, even if allegations are later dismissed or disproved, the time spent in jail and the emotional stress suffered by those arrested cannot be recovered.
He also said the AAP and people across the country would stand with Jain during the legal proceedings.
Kejriwal further attacked the central government, claiming that public anger against the BJP was growing. He predicted that the Narendra Modi government would eventually lose power, regardless of the pressure placed on opposition leaders.
Satyendar Jain Arrested In Delhi Jal Board Case
The ACB arrested Satyendar Jain on August 18 in connection with alleged irregularities in the awarding of contracts related to the expansion and modernisation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Delhi Jal Board.
Five other people were arrested in the same case.
They include Udit Prakash Rai, a former IAS officer and former Delhi Jal Board CEO; Ankit Srivastava, who previously worked as a contractual consultant with the DJB; and private individuals Nagendra Yadav, Raja Kumar Kurra and Pankaj Verma.
The case concerns alleged problems in the tendering process for sewage treatment plant projects.
Case Registered In 2024
The matter is linked to FIR No. 10/2024, which was registered at the Anti-Corruption Branch police station on May 11, 2024.
The investigation includes provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, along with sections of the Indian Penal Code related to cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.
The case was initiated following a complaint by the Directorate of Vigilance, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The complaint alleged irregularities in the tendering process for the augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants operated under the Delhi Jal Board.
The allegations are part of an ongoing investigation, and the court proceedings will determine the legal outcome of the case.
