The Aam Aadmi Party has questioned why BJP MP Raghav Chadha was not questioned after former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain’s arrest in the alleged Delhi Jal Board tender scam. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar asked why authorities did not investigate Chadha despite earlier BJP leaders alleging his involvement. She called the case an example of political vendetta against AAP leaders. Chadha’s aides rejected the allegations and highlighted the timeline of his tenure at the Delhi Jal Board. Chadha served as the board’s vice-chairman from March 2020 to March 2022 and resigned as an MLA during the same period. His team said the alleged tender irregularities occurred in October 2022, several months after Chadha left the board. They argued that the timeline does not support claims linking him to the alleged wrongdoing.
AAP Questions Raghav Chadha Role in DJB Tender Case
Chadha’s team has strongly denied any connection between the BJP MP and the alleged tender irregularities. His aides said the investigative agency’s findings did not name Chadha or assign him any responsibility in the case. They pointed out that investigators identified several officials, consultants, private individuals and companies during their inquiry. The findings reportedly mentioned the then Water Minister, the former DJB chairman, the board’s CEO and other people connected with the tender process. Chadha’s aides argued that authorities must provide concrete evidence before assigning criminal responsibility. They accused AAP leaders of using political statements to create suspicion without presenting supporting evidence. His team said simply mentioning Chadha’s name cannot establish his involvement in a criminal conspiracy. They also repeated that Chadha’s tenure ended months before the alleged irregularities occurred.
The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch arrested six people in connection with alleged irregularities in DJB sewage treatment plant tenders. Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain and former DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai were among those arrested. Investigators allege that officials and private entities manipulated tender conditions and committed irregularities during the bidding process. The agency also suspects a criminal conspiracy involving officials, consultants and private companies. Authorities registered the case on May 11, 2024, following a complaint from the Directorate of Vigilance. Jain has denied the allegations and described his arrest as politically motivated. He claimed authorities targeted him because Punjab Assembly elections could take place early next year. AAP leaders supported Jain and questioned the timing of his arrest. They accused the BJP of using investigative agencies against political opponents before elections.
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BJP and AAP Clash Over Delhi Jal Board Allegations
Party chief Arvind Kejriwal questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged pressure on investigating agencies. AAP leaders have continued to describe Jain’s arrest as political vendetta and defended their former minister. Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj called the case politically motivated and demanded evidence against Jain. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP feared losing the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. He accused the BJP of targeting Jain to disrupt the Bhagwant Mann government’s work in Punjab. Singh also claimed that authorities had arrested AAP leaders before elections in the past. Jain had previously appeared before the Anti-Corruption Branch for questioning after receiving a summons. Meanwhile, BJP leaders maintained that agencies should investigate corruption allegations without political interference. The competing claims have created another political confrontation between the BJP and AAP.
BJP leaders have expanded their attack on the previous AAP government over alleged corruption within the Delhi Jal Board. Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra claimed DJB accounts had not undergone proper audits for around ten years. He alleged that the financial irregularities could involve a much larger amount and demanded the release of investigation findings. BJP leaders Manoj Tiwari and Bansuri Swaraj accused the previous AAP government of misusing funds meant for sewage treatment projects. BJP leaders Praveen Khandelwal and Praveen Shankar Kapoor also alleged that AAP leaders provided political protection to people involved in corruption. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal separately accused the previous AAP administration of neglecting the Yamuna’s cleanup. The allegations remain contested, and investigators continue examining the tender process. Chadha’s alleged connection has added another political angle to the wider corruption controversy.
[…] Also read:Raghav Chadha Faces Questions Over Delhi Tender Allegations, Team Rejects Claims […]