Satyendar Jain, AAP leader and ex-Delhi minister, arrested over alleged corruption in Jal Board tenders

AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain was arrested on Tuesday by the Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with an alleged corruption case involving the Delhi Jal Board, news agency ANI reported.

The case stems from an FIR registered in 2024 following a complaint by the Delhi government’s Directorate of Vigilance. Investigators have alleged large-scale irregularities, manipulation of tender conditions and criminal conspiracy in the tendering process for the augmentation and upgradation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Delhi Jal Board.

Jain was the Delhi water minister when the alleged irregularities took place.

Five other people have also been arrested in the case, including former DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai and former contractual consultant Ankit Srivastava. The other accused identified by the ACB are private individuals Nagendra Yadav, Raja Kumar Kurra and Pankaj Verma.

The FIR was registered in May 2024 under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, along with sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.

Arvind Kejriwal defends Jain

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal defended Satyendar Jain following the arrest, alleging that the action was taken at the behest of the BJP.

Kejriwal claimed that the case would ultimately be “proven fake” and accused the BJP-led government of using investigative agencies to target political opponents.

“Satyendra Jain ji has once again been arrested at the behest of the BJP,” Kejriwal said in a post on X.

He also alleged that Jain had previously been jailed in what he described as a fabricated case and questioned who would compensate him for the alleged loss of time and mental suffering.

Kejriwal further claimed that the BJP government’s “end” was certain and said the Aam Aadmi Party and its supporters stood firmly behind Jain.