Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain was arrested on Tuesday by the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch in connection with alleged corruption and irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board's sewage treatment plant tendering process. Five others were also taken into custody in the case.
The case centres on tenders awarded for the augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants under the Delhi Jal Board during the tenure of the previous AAP government. Investigators have alleged manipulation of the tendering process and are examining a suspected bribery trail of about Rs 1.52 crore.
Jain, who previously held several portfolios in the Delhi government, including Health, Public Works and Water, has faced investigations in multiple cases over the past several years. Tuesday's arrest brings him back into custody after his earlier prolonged incarceration in a separate money-laundering case.
Six arrested in case
Apart from Jain, the ACB arrested five other people in connection with the alleged Delhi Jal Board irregularities. The investigation relates to work involving sewage treatment plants and the manner in which contracts were processed and awarded.
According to investigators, the case involves allegations that the tender process was manipulated to favour particular entities. The agency is examining financial transactions associated with the contracts and the roles played by officials and private individuals.
The ACB's action follows a continuing investigation into alleged irregularities at the Delhi Jal Board. Jain had earlier been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a sewage treatment plant case in July 2025.
The latest arrest is by the Delhi government's anti-corruption agency and is separate from the money-laundering proceedings in which Jain had previously spent around 18 months in prison.
Tender process under scanner
The investigation focuses on the augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants, a crucial component of Delhi's efforts to expand sewage-processing capacity and reduce pollution.
Investigators are looking into whether the tendering system was deliberately altered or manipulated and whether officials or other individuals received illegal financial benefits in return.
India Today reported that the ACB is investigating an alleged Rs 1.52-crore bribe trail involving a former Delhi Jal Board chief executive officer.
The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny, and the arrests do not constitute findings of guilt.
Jain's previous legal battles
Jain has been involved in several legal proceedings in recent years. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in May 2022 in a separate money-laundering case and remained incarcerated for an extended period before being released.
His arrest at the time became one of the major political flashpoints between AAP and the BJP, with AAP repeatedly alleging that investigative agencies were being used to target its leaders. The investigating agencies and BJP rejected allegations of political motivation.
In a separate corruption case concerning the recruitment of consultants in Delhi's Public Works Department, Jain received relief in August 2025 when a Delhi court closed the matter after the CBI said its investigation had not found sufficient evidence of wrongdoing.
That case is distinct from the Delhi Jal Board investigation that led to Tuesday's arrest.
Political implications for AAP
The latest development is likely to reopen a political confrontation over corruption allegations involving the previous AAP administration in Delhi.
Jain was once among the most prominent ministers in the Arvind Kejriwal government and handled several important departments. His earlier arrest, along with the legal troubles subsequently faced by other senior AAP leaders, had become central to the political battle between the party and the BJP.
The Delhi Jal Board, responsible for the capital's water supply and sewage infrastructure, has itself been the subject of scrutiny over various contracts and expenditure decisions.
With the ACB now making multiple arrests in the sewage treatment plant tender case, attention will turn to the evidence investigators place before the court and whether the agency can establish its allegations regarding manipulation of contracts and the suspected movement of bribe money.
For Jain, Tuesday's arrest marks another major legal challenge after years of litigation and investigation. For AAP, it brings corruption allegations surrounding the functioning of the former Delhi government back into the political spotlight.
The case will now proceed through the judicial process, where the allegations against Jain and the other accused will have to be tested against the evidence gathered by investigators.