Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain Arrested By ED In Money Laundering Case

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• May 30, 2022 | Dhupali Das

As per ED officials, Jain was arrested in a case involving hawala transactions with a Kolkata-based company.

Digital Desk: Delhi health minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Monday in connection with a money laundering case.

As per ED officials, Jain was arrested in a case involving hawala transactions with a Kolkata-based company.

Last month the ED confiscated assets worth Rs 4.81 crore of the family and businesses "beneficially owned and managed" by the Delhi minister. 

In the Arvind Kejriwal-led government, Jain holds numerous ministries, including health, power, home, PWD, industries, urban development, flood, irrigation, and water.

In a statement, the federal investigation agency stated that it had issued a preliminary order for the attachment of assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"Akinchan Developers Pvt Ltd, Indo Metal Impex Pvt Ltd, Paryas Infosolutions Pvt Ltd, Manglayatan Projects Pvt Ltd, JJ Ideal Estate Pvt Ltd, Swati Jain, wife of Vaibhav Jain, Sushila Jain, wife of Ajit Prasad Jain, and Indu Jain, wife of Sunil Jain own the attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore," it said.

"During the period 2015-16, when Satyendra Kumar Jain was a public servant, the companies beneficially owned and controlled by him received accommodation entries to the tune of Rs 4.81 crore from shell (paper) companies against cash transferred to Kolkata-based entry operators via the hawala route," the investigation agency said. 

"These funds were used to purchase land directly or to repay a loan taken to purchase agricultural land in and around Delhi," the ED stated.

In connection with the matter, the inquiry agency questioned the AAP MLA from Shakur Basti in 2018.

Based on an FIR lodged by the CBI in August 2017 against him and others on accusations of suspected possession of disproportionate assets, the ED registered a money-laundering probe against the AAP minister.

Earlier, in February, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal claimed that he had learned from sources that the ED was planning to arrest Jain just before the Punjab Assembly elections. Further, the Delhi CM accuses the Union government of targeting him after noticing the BJP "would lose" the elections.

The AAP won the Punjab Assembly elections in March and has formed a government in the state, with Bhagwant Mann as chief minister.