New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain, accused and arrested in an alleged money laundering case, have been sent to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till June 9. The development came hours after the ED produced Jain before the Rouse Avenue Court and sought his two-week custodial remand.
The minister was arrested by ED on Monday evening in connection with Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to a disproportionate assets lodged against him and others.
According to reports, Special Judge Geetanjli Goel remanded Jain in ED’s custody, noting that his custodial interrogation was required to unearth the larger conspiracy.
It is also being said that now Jain will be confronted with different documents and statements of accused and witness in the case. Jain’s arrest came weeks after the the financial watchdog attached property worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to one of his relatives.
“Immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to different firms owned by Swati Jain, Sushila Jain, and Indu Jain were attached. Akinchan Developers Pvt Ltd, Indo Metal impex Pvt Ltd, Paryas Infosolutions Pvt Ltd, Manglayatan Projects Pvt Ltd, JJ Ideal Estate Pvt Ltd were the firms against which actions were taken,” news agency IANS quoted as ED official as saying.
Jain is being probed on the basis of an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under section 109 of IPC read with sections 13(2) and 13(1) (e) of Prevention of Corruption Act. Other people are also being probed in the case.
As per ED’s allegations, Jain, who was a public servant between 2015-16 and during this time the aforementioned companies owned by him received accommodation entries to the tune of Rs 4.81 crore from shell companies against cash transferred to Kolkata-based entry operators through Hawala route.
Reacting to the incident, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the case against Jain was “complete fraud” and he was targeted for political reasons. “I have personally studied this case and it is completely fraudulent. We have a very honest government. He has been targeted because of political reasons,” Kejriwal said adding that AAP government is an honest government and they have faith in the judiciary system.