The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found that approximately ₹2 crore in bribe money was used for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) election funding during an investigation into an alleged scam in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). This information was revealed in a chargesheet filed by the ED.
Crime News: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made startling revelations in its investigation into a major scam in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The ED alleges that a former chief engineer of the DJB took a bribe of ₹2 crore, a portion of which was used in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s election funding. This case involves allegations of money laundering and corruption, with the roles of several officials and contractors under investigation.
OpIndia
Scam Origin: Improper Contract Allocation
According to the ED's investigation, Jagdish Kumar Arora, the then chief engineer of the DJB, awarded a ₹38 crore contract to NKG Infrastructure Limited in 2018, despite the company not meeting the technical eligibility criteria. This contract involved the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of electromagnetic flow meters. Arora awarded this contract based on forged performance certificates issued by Devendra Kumar Mittal, the then general manager of NBCC India Limited.
Bribe Amount and its Usage
The ED investigation found that Jagdish Kumar Arora, the then chief engineer of the DJB, received a bribe of ₹3.19 crore in exchange for the contract. He used ₹1.18 crore for personal expenses and property purchases, while the remaining ₹2.01 crore was transferred to other DJB officials and towards AAP's election funding.
Individuals Named in the Chargesheet
- The ED's chargesheet names the following individuals and entities as accused:
- Jagdish Kumar Arora, former Chief Engineer, DJB
- Anil Kumar Agrawal, owner of Integral Screw Industries
- Devinder Kumar Mittal, former General Manager, NBCC (India) Limited
- Tajinder Pal Singh, Chartered Accountant
NKG Infrastructure Limited
Arora and Agrawal were arrested in January 2024 and are in judicial custody. The ED conducted raids in Delhi, Varanasi, and Chandigarh in this case, seizing ₹1.97 crore in cash, ₹4 lakh in foreign currency, and numerous incriminating documents and digital evidence.
The AAP has termed the ED's investigation a politically motivated vendetta, claiming it is an attempt to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP.
