New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday (August 18) lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the arrest of his party leader and former Delhi minister by Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Kejriwal said that Jain was arrested on the “behest” of the BJP. Notably, Jain and five others were reportedly arrested in connection with an alleged corruption case related to the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools.
“Jain had once again been arrested at the behest of the BJP and claimed the earlier case against him was also fabricated,” Kejriwal said. He said the latest case too would eventually be proved false and questioned who would compensate Jain for the time spent in jail and the alleged mental torture.
Kejriwal also alleged that the BJP is using “dictatorship and falsely implicating people” and said the AAP and people of the country stood firmly with Jain. Meanwhile, the BJP has not yet responded to Kejriwal’s allegations.
Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh also targeted the BJP over Jain’s arrest,. Singh Accused the BJP-led government of of targeting opposition-ruled governments and using investigative agencies to create pressure ahead of elections.
“This is the policy of the BJP Govt – disturb any Govt which actually works, stop them and pressure them in every manner. Before Delhi election, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and I were arrested. The goal was just one – disturbing Delhi election, and winning in any way possible. They are doing the same now before Punjab elections…BJP is baffled. PM Modi and Amit Shah are unable to understand what they should do in Punjab…They have realised that they are not going to succeed in Punjab, so they are using these tactics,” the AAP MP said.
According to reports, the action against Jain and five others was taken by the ACB in connection with an FIR registered in 2024. Ex-Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO Udit Prakash Rai (IAS) is also among six persons arrested.
The other accused arrested 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 a statement.
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 augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants of the DJB.
Jain had appeared before the Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch on June 6 last year for questioning in the case after being summoned by the agency.