Former Aam Aadmi Party Minister Satyendar Jain Accused of Bribery in ₹571 Crore CCTV Project.
Satyendar Jain News: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has filed a case against former Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satyendar Jain, following serious allegations of corruption in a ₹571 crore CCTV project. Jain is accused of accepting crores of rupees in bribes to waive off government penalties.
What are the Allegations Against Satyendar Jain?
The Delhi government project involved installing 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras across 70 assembly constituencies. Delays in the project resulted in a ₹16 crore penalty imposed on Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
It is alleged that Satyendar Jain waived this penalty for BEL in exchange for a ₹7 crore bribe. This bribe was allegedly paid through contractors who received orders for the additional 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras.
How Did the ACB Uncover the Scam?
Satyendar Jain was the nodal officer for the project. Following a complaint about the scam, the ACB first questioned BEL officer Jitendra Kumar. A media report on August 23, 2019, stated that the Delhi government had imposed a ₹16 crore penalty on BEL and its contractors. This report initiated the investigation.
BEL Officials' Role to be Investigated
The Delhi government's Vigilance Directorate forwarded the matter to the Union Home Ministry, following which Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena authorized the ACB to file a case against Satyendar Jain and conduct an investigation. The ACB is now collecting documents from the PWD and BEL to thoroughly investigate the scam.
Increased Orders in Exchange for Bribes
The ACB investigation revealed that BEL repeatedly received orders for additional CCTV cameras. After paying bribes to contractors, their orders were also increased. The possibility of uncovering more scams in this case is being speculated.
Satyendar Jain's Resignation from Ministerial Post
In May 2022, Satyendar Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. He spent a considerable time in Tihar Jail and resigned from his ministerial post in February 2023. He is currently out on bail.
ACB Joint Commissioner Madhur Kumar Verma stated that evidence of a ₹7 crore bribe to waive a ₹16 crore penalty has been found, but the investigation may reveal even larger scams. The roles of BEL and PWD officials are also being thoroughly investigated.
