Satyendar Jain received ₹7 crore bribe? Delhi LG okays probe under anti-corruption act

AAP leader Atishi claimed that the BJP-led central government was trying to implicate the Arvind Kejriwal-led party in ‘another fake case.’

Published on: Jul 6, 2024, 18:42:47 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

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In more trouble for jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain, Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday gave permission for a probe under the Prevention of Corruption (PoC) Act over a ₹7 crore bribery allegation against the former minister.

File: Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain. (HT PHOTO)

“The LG agreed with the Department of Vigilance's (DoV) proposal to refer the matter under Section 17 A of the PoC Act, 1998, to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for approving an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB),” the lieutenant governor's office said in a statement, according to news agency ANI.

In January last year, the ACB began its preliminary probe against Jain, who was arrested in May 2022 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a separate disproportionate assets case and is lodged in Tihar jail.

Also Read: MHA nod to CBI probe against AAP’s Satyendar Jain in jail extortion case

Reacting to the development, Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi claimed that the BJP-led central government was trying to implicate the Arvind Kejriwal-led party in ‘another fake case.’

“The BJP is engaged in a conspiracy against the Delhi government day and night. More than 200 cases were filed against AAP leaders in 10 years. But to date, not a single rupee of corruption has been recovered from anywhere. BJP wants to paralyze the Delhi government,” she said.

What is the ₹7 crore bribery case?

It is alleged that Jain, then a serving minister, was bribed by officials of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) when the firm was installing CCTV cameras across the national capital in 2018-2019, a ₹571 crore project.

The ACB probe was launched on a complaint by Manmohan Pandey, an ex-BEL employee. Pandey, as per officials of the anti-graft agency, gave them a signed copy of the minutes of a meeting related to a disciplinary inquiry against him in September 2019, during which Pandey put on record that the person in charge of the CCTV project said that Jain (then the public works department minister) asked for a bribe of ₹7 crore.

Responding to Pandey's charge, BEL accused him of making ‘false allegations’ as he was dismissed from service.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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