Satyendar Jain arrested in Delhi Jal Board sewage plant tender case

Satyendar Jain was arrested on Monday in a case linked to Delhi Jal Board tenders for upgrading sewage treatment plants across the capital.

The Anti-Corruption Branch said a Directorate of Vigilance complaint alleged large-scale irregularities, manipulation of tender conditions and criminal conspiracy in the procurement process. The case involves four tenders, awarded in October 2022, for augmentation and upgradation work at 10 sewage treatment plants. Three joint-venture companies participated in the process.

Investigators allege the value of the four contracts rose from about Rs 1,546 crore to Rs 1,943 crore without due process or project reports. Jain, a former Delhi water minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party leader, has been accused of involvement in manipulating the tender process.

Arvind Kejriwal said the case was fabricated and would be proved false. The Aam Aadmi Party described the arrest as politically motivated and linked it to Punjab’s upcoming Assembly election.

The allegations concern sewage-treatment infrastructure, while the Delhi Jal Board is also pursuing water-supply upgrades including trial runs at the Chandrawal water treatment plant.