The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has interrogated Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain in connection with the alleged irregularities in the city’s excise policy, while he was serving as the state’s transport minister. The interrogation took place in Tihar Jail, where Jain is currently lodged, as he is facing charges of money laundering.
The case dates back to 2016 when the Delhi government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had introduced a new excise policy. The policy was aimed at reducing the prices of liquor in the city and increasing the government’s revenue. However, the opposition parties had alleged that the policy was formulated to favour a few liquor manufacturers.
The CBI had registered a case in this regard in 2019, and it has been investigating the matter since then. The agency had alleged that the policy had caused a loss of over Rs. 1,000 crore to the Delhi government and had benefitted a few private companies.
The CBI had arrested Satyendar Jain in August 2021 on charges of money laundering. Jain has been accused of acquiring properties worth crores of rupees through shell companies, which were allegedly used to launder money obtained through corrupt means.
The agency has been investigating the case against Jain and has been trying to unravel the alleged money trail. The CBI had sought Jain’s custody for further interrogation, but the court had denied its request and had sent Jain to judicial custody.
The counsel said the CBI also quizzed AAP’s communication in-charge Vijay Nair, who is also lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with the excise policy-money laundering case. Nair was earlier granted bail in the excise scam.
The CBI’s decision to interrogate Jain in Tihar Jail has raised eyebrows, as many have questioned the legality of such an action. Some have accused the agency of resorting to arm-twisting tactics to extract information from Jain, who has maintained that he is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case.
The ED, had in its supplementary charge sheet, stated that the investigation done under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) so far has revealed that the Delhi Excise Policy, 2021-22 was created by top leaders of the AAP to continuously generate and channel illegal funds to themselves.
The Delhi government, too, has come out in support of Jain, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal describing the CBI’s action as “politically motivated.” The AAP leader has alleged that the BJP-led central government is using the agency to target opposition leaders.
The CBI’s interrogation of Satyendar Jain in Tihar Jail has sparked a heated debate about the alleged misuse of state agencies for political purposes. The case has also highlighted the need for a robust and impartial judicial system that can dispense justice without fear or favour.
The CBI’s investigation into the excise policy scam is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what its findings will be. However, what is clear is that the case has further deepened the trust deficit between the Delhi government and the central agencies. It has also underscored the need for greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of government institutions.
