'This is politics': AAP leader Satyendar Jain says his arrest linked to Punjab polls

Key points

• The other arrested accused are Ankit Srivastava, a former contractual consultant with the DJB, and private persons Nagendra Yadav, Raja…
• Jain was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a capital laundering case in May 2022.
• AAP leader Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) was linked to the upcoming Punjab…
• "This is done because the Punjab election is coming up… this is politics," Jain, who is also AAP's co-in-charge for…

AAP leader Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) was linked to the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls and called it “politics”.

Former Delhi minister Jain and former Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO Udit Prakash Rai are among six persons arrested by the ACB in connection with an alleged corruption case involving the tendering process for sewage treatment plant projects of the DJB, an officer said on Tuesday.

“This is done because the Punjab election is coming up… this is politics,” Jain, who is also AAP’s co-in-charge for Punjab, stated while being taken to the Rouse Avenue Court.

The other arrested accused are Ankit Srivastava, a former contractual consultant with the DJB, and private persons Nagendra Yadav, Raja Kumar Kurra and Pankaj Verma, the ACB said in an official note.

What happened

The case was registered on May 11, 2024, on a complaint by the Directorate of Vigilance over alleged large-scale irregularities, manipulation of tender conditions and criminal conspiracy in the tendering process related to the augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants of the DJB.

According to the ACB, the investigation found that the tendering process allegedly contained restrictive technical specifications and conditions favouring a particular technology provider, Euroteck Environment Pvt Ltd, thereby, limiting competition and providing undue advantage to the private entity.

While restrictive conditions concerning the technology and media to be used were included in the tender, the agency alleged that the proposed pilot study was not conducted.

It also alleged that essential parameters relating to treated effluent were excluded and technical specifications were changed, resulting in significant financial implications for the administration exchequer.

The details

(With inputs from PTI)