AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday broke his silence on the arrest of his minister Satyendar Jain by the ED, saying the case is "completely fake and politically motivated".
Kejriwal asserted that the AAP is an honest political party and that he himself would have taken action against Jain if there were even one per cent substance in the case.
"I have studied the case against Jain. It is completely fake and motivated by political reasons. We have faith in the judiciary. Jain is following the path of truth, and he will come out clean," the chief minister told reporters during an inspection of a road development programme of his government.
Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Department (ED) in a case of money laundering on Monday.
In January, ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, Kejriwal had claimed he had learnt from sources that Jain could be arrested by the ED.
Previously as the minister for public works, Jain has been credited with completing several constructions below the estimated cost and refurbishing schools and hospitals.
Last month, the ED had attached assets worth Rs 4.81 crore of Jain’s extended family and companies as part of a money-laundering probe against him based on an FIR registered by the CBI for alleged corruption in 2017. The CBI probe has made no headway despite two raids on Jain.
“Investigation by ED revealed that during the period 2015-16, when Satyendar Kumar Jain was a public servant, the above mentioned companies beneficially owned and controlled 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. These amounts were utilized for direct purchase of land or for the repayment of loan taken for purchase of agricultural land in and around Delhi,” the ED said in statement.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh said Jain was called for questioning at the ED headquarters and later placed under arrest. “This is a fabricated and baseless case. We will fight well for HP. The BJP is losing Himachal and this is them showing their frustration,” he said.
Party sources said Jain was summoned seven times in 2018 and had not been called by the ED since then. They added that Jain had resigned from the companies in question in 2013.