In a fresh controversy surrounding jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain, Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved an investigation under the Prevention of Corruption (PoC) Act into a ?7 crore bribery allegation against the former minister. This development adds to Jain?s legal woes as he remains incarcerated in Tihar Jail on separate charges.
The lieutenant governor's office announced on Saturday, ?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).? This statement was confirmed by the news agency ANI.
The ACB had initiated its preliminary probe against Jain in January last year. Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May 2022 in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
Reacting to the latest development, Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi accused the BJP-led central government of plotting against the AAP. ?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 stated.
The bribery allegations stem from 2018-2019, when Jain was purportedly bribed by officials from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The firm was responsible for installing CCTV cameras across Delhi, a project worth ?571 crore. The ACB?s investigation was prompted by a complaint from Manmohan Pandey, a former BEL employee. According to ACB officials, Pandey provided a signed copy of the minutes from a September 2019 disciplinary inquiry meeting, where he claimed that a person in charge of the CCTV project alleged Jain, then the public works department minister, demanded a ?7 crore bribe.
BEL has denied Pandey?s allegations, accusing him of making false claims following his dismissal from the company.
