Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) was linked to the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls and called it "politics".
Jain and former Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO Udit Prakash Rai are among six persons arrested by the ACB in connection with an alleged corruption case involving the tendering process for sewage treatment plant projects of the DJB, an officer said on Tuesday.
"This is done because the Punjab election is coming up… this is politics," Jain, who is also AAP's co-in-charge for Punjab, said while being taken to the Rouse Avenue Court.
Six accused arrested
The other arrested accused 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.
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The case was registered on May 11, 2024, following 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 the augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants of the DJB.
ACB alleges tender irregularities
According to the ACB, its investigation found that the tendering process allegedly contained restrictive technical specifications and conditions that favoured a particular technology provider, Euroteck Environment Pvt Ltd.
The agency alleged that these conditions limited competition and provided an undue advantage to the private entity.
The ACB also alleged that the proposed pilot study was not conducted, while restrictive conditions relating to the technology and media to be used were included in the tender.
Probe flags financial implications
The agency further alleged that essential parameters concerning treated effluent were excluded from the tender and that technical specifications were changed.
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According to the ACB, these alleged changes had significant financial implications for the government exchequer.
Jain's arrest comes against the backdrop of his earlier legal troubles. The former Delhi minister was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May 2022 in connection with a money laundering case.