Latest news with #SatyendarJain
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
AAP Leader's Swipe At BJP After Top Court's "Crook" Remark On Probe Agency
AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj declared that the Supreme Court branding the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as a "crook" is not just unprecedented-but a damning reflection of how deeply compromised India's institutions have become under BJP rule. "The country's highest court, the Supreme Court, called the ED a crook - this is no small matter. But unfortunately, people sitting in constitutional positions are bowing before power and working solely on the agenda of one political party and its government. The Supreme Court issues orders, but no concrete action is taken against officials; unless concrete action is taken, it will yield no benefit," Saurabh Bharadwaj wrote on social media platform X. देश की सबसे बड़ी अदालत सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने ED को क्रुक कहा — ये मामूली बात नहीं है। लेकिन अफ़सोस, संवैधानिक पदों पर बैठे लोग सत्ता के आगे नतमस्तक होकर सिर्फ़ एक राजनीतिक पार्टी और उसकी सरकार के एजेंडे पर काम कर रहे हैं। सुप्रीम कोर्ट से आदेश तो आता है लेकिन अफसरों पर कोई ठोस… — Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) August 8, 2025 The AAP Delhi Unit Chief warned that those occupying constitutional posts are no longer custodians of the Constitution but have become foot soldiers of the ruling party, surrendering their independence and integrity. "Even when the Supreme Court gives strong observations, the bureaucracy ignores it with impunity. Unless there is real accountability, these statements will remain hollow," he said, underscoring the systemic erosion of checks and balances in Indian democracy. "These individuals no longer care about such judicial observations, because they are working on the agenda of a political party and its government. Even when orders come from the Supreme Court, no concrete steps are being taken to bring about institutional reform," Saurabh Bharadwaj added. Referring to the case of former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain, he pointed out, "In Satyendar Jain's matter, the court did say that the ED should not have tweeted in such a manner, but since no officer was held accountable, what was the point of the court's observation? If the Supreme Court issues such an order, it must be followed by concrete action against the officers involved - only then will it have any real effect. Otherwise, such judgments serve no purpose."
Indian Express
06-08-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Day after relief for AAP's Satyendar Jain in PWD hiring case, Delhi govt claims Rs 650-cr fraud in LNJP project
A day after a CBI closure report in a corruption case came as a relief to former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, the BJP government on Tuesday levelled fresh allegations of irregularities in the construction of a new block at the LNJP Hospital under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the government has sent a file to Lt Governor V.K. Saxena for a probe into the matter. The AAP, however, rejected the claims and slammed the ruling BJP over 'frivolous and baseless cases' in a statement. Speaking to the reporters, the PWD Minister claimed that the project's budget was inflated by Rs 650 crore during Jain's tenure as the PWD and health minister. 'There is a difference between the budget sanctioned for the construction of a new block at LNJP Hospital earlier and today. The amount has increased by Rs 650 crore. Jain suggested changes during reviews to benefit the contractors, which led to cost escalation. There was a scam of Rs 650 crore. We have sent a file to the L-G on this matter. He will forward it to either ACB Or CBI for inquiry in the matter,' Singh said. According to officials, a committee was constituted to examine the procedural lapses, which found that the original contract amount was Rs 465 crore, which escalated to Rs 1,139 crore, almost 243% higher. The committee highlighted irregularities and violations in consultancy work under Jain. It also alleged the 'selection of the favoured architect consultant was done through a questionable process that was marred with irregularities and in gross violation of provisions of GFR'. According to documents, the consultancy work was awarded for an area of 84,420 sqm with a value of Rs 5.27 crore to a contractor on nomination basis without calling for any tender as per the decision of the then Health Minister. It also stated that even as six consultants were empanelled, it was specifically noted that financial bids were called separately for each project. 'However this condition was flouted and then arbitrary decision was taken to appoint consultants district wise or region wise, stating that a single consultant with deal with all projects there in… Bids were invited for consultancy work pertaining to district central for an area of 90,000 square metres with the value of Rs. 5.62 crore,' reads the document. Meanwhile, AAP in its response said, 'The BJP and its ministers are obsessed with the ACB, CBI, and ED. Every day, they hatch conspiracies against AAP leaders, waste time drafting baseless and frivolous cases, and squander taxpayers' money on directionless investigations.' On the PWD hiring case, it added, 'Just a day ago, the court taught them a lesson by closing one of the CBI cases against Satyendar Jain. The court clearly stated that the CBI had registered a baseless case with no corruption, no criminality, and no evidence. Yet, the minister's home was raided, and he was harassed for eight years.'
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Irregularities in construction of LNJP block, file sent to LG'
New Delhi: A day after the closure of a corruption case against former minister Satyendar Jain, Delhi govt on Tuesday alleged irregularities in the construction of a block at LNJP Hospital during the tenure of the previous AAP dispensation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now PWD minister Parvesh Verma said the govt had sent the file to lieutenant governor VK Saxena for a probe. "The budget sanctioned for the construction increased by Rs 650 crore. (Former) PWD minister Satyendar Jain got changes done. He would go on inspection and suggest changes, which led to cost escalation. There was a scam of Rs 650 crore," Verma alleged. LG will forward the file to either ACB or CBI, he added. AAP responded by claiming that every day, BJP hatched conspiracies against AAP functionaries and squandered taxpayers' money on these directionless investigations. "Just a day ago, the court taught them a lesson by closing one of the CBI cases against Satyendar Jain. The court clearly stated that CBI had registered a baseless case with no corruption, no criminality and no evidence," it said. Saxena set up a committee last year to examine the "procedural lapses" in the LNJP project and it was found that the original contract amount was Rs 465 crore, which escalated by almost 243% to Rs 1,139 crore. The committee highlighted alleged irregularities and violations in the consultancy work under Jain, the then health minister. It suggested that a favoured architect consultant was appointed without a proper tender, violating procurement and general financial rules, sources said. Although six consultants were empanelled, it was noted that financial bids must be called separately for each project. This requirement was ignored and an arbitrary decision was taken to appoint consultants district-wise or region-wise, they said, claiming that this effectively meant that a single consultant was allowed to handle all projects.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Court accepts CBI closure report against Satyendar Jain
A Delhi court has accepted CBI's closure report in a corruption case against AAP leader Satyendar Jain, citing lack of evidence and absence of sanction. The FIR, registered in 2019, alleged irregularities in hiring a 'creative team' for PWD projects during Jain's tenure as minister. Accusations included bypassing recruitment norms and financial irregularities. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: A local court on Monday accepted a closure report filed by CBI in a corruption case against former Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain. The CBI filed the closure report due to the lack of evidence and absence of FIR was registered in May 2019 against Jain (the then PWD minister, GNCTD) and other PWD officials based on a complaint from the Directorate of Vigilance, Delhi government. It was alleged that there was an irregular engagement of professionals in PWD, a violation of rules, and payments made from unrelated project funds. It was also alleged that Jain and PWD officials irregularly hired a "creative team" of consultants, breaching recruitment and financial regulations.A special CBI judge accepted the CBI final report for closure of the case. "In the absence of any evidence and sanction, the present final report for closure of the FIR is accepted," the special CBI judge ordered on August allegations were of hiring a 17-member creative team of consultants by PWD. The complainant had claimed that outsourcing professionals for PWD projects were allegedly irregular and lacked proper approvals from the relevant finance department. This hiring bypassed standard recruitment procedures, he was further alleged that the expenses were charged to unrelated projects, such as 'Barapullah Phase-III', without clearance from the finance department. There were accusations that there was a reduction in eligibility criteria scope of work was altered, and the process was manipulated to favour a specific agency, Soni Detective & Allied Services Private Limited, thereby violating norms and resulting in financial irregularities
Indian Express
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why CBI closed case against former AAP Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain: No criminal activity or loss to govt
A Delhi court on Monday (August 4) accepted a closure report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satyendar Jain relating to alleged irregularities in hiring in the Department. This was one of the first major corruption cases filed against any senior leader of the AAP. In its closure report, the CBI, after carrying out investigations for almost four years, said that it had found 'no criminal activity or wrongful loss to the government' in the case. Accepting the report, Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of Rouse Avenue court who was hearing the case said: '…When CBI could not find any evidence of criminal conspiracy, abuse of power, pecuniary gain, or wrongful loss to the government exchequer, and the alleged acts are at most administrative irregularities, no offence under Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act or criminal conspiracy is established.' The case was related to alleged corruption in the hiring of a 17-member creative team for the PWD for various projects. An FIR was registered on May 29, 2019 after a complaint by the Delhi government's Directorate of Vigilance, which alleged that professionals were engaged in the PWD in violation of rules, and that payments were made from unrelated project funds. The complaint said that the outsourcing of professionals for PWD projects was 'allegedly irregular and lacked proper approvals from the relevant Finance Department'. The hiring 'bypassed standard recruitment procedures', and expenses were charged to unrelated projects, it said. The main accusation was that Jain and PWD officials had ignored standard hiring practices followed by the government, altered the scope of work, and manipulated the process to favour an agency named M/s Soni Detective & Allied Services Private Limited. After the FIR was registered, the CBI examined various aspects relating to the hiring such as the justification and need for hiring these professionals, the transparency (or lack of it) behind the recruitment process, approvals and use of project funds, whether any personal gain was involved, and whether legal and procedural norms were followed. And what did the investigation find? Following the investigation, the CBI concluded that the need to hire professionals was justified. It found that the hiring process had begun with an advertisement that attracted 1,700 applications for the jobs, and that the selections were based on merit. Those who were hired were paid between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1.95 lakh per month, which the CBI said was 'justified remuneration' that 'aligned with the regular earnings' of other PWD architects. The CBI had also stated that the hiring of professionals was necessary due to urgent departmental needs and that no payments beyond approved limits had been made. 'The total investigation found no criminal activity or wrongful loss to the government… No evidence of quid pro quo or conspiracy has emerged, and the acts of public servants do not constitute fraudulent conduct,' it said. The CBI also said that the agency was hired through a transparent tender advertised in newspapers, and no complaints of irregularities were received from the losing bidder. The CBI investigation concluded that the key reasons for requiring professionals stemmed from a note written by officers to the Minister back in September 2015, in which they had flagged the absence of in-house expertise and a large number of vacancies. Also, several key infrastructure projects such as smart schools, hospitals, clinics, and road redesigns were pending. The CBI noted that at the time the hirings took place, there were close to 50% vacancies in the posts of architects, and major infrastructure projects had to be executed in a time-bound manner by the Delhi government. The 'highly qualified candidates' who were hired managed 82 projects, including mohalla clinics, flyovers and elevated corridors, and anganwadis, the CBI said. The CBI concluded that there were no irregularities in recruitment, and no one had made any pecuniary gains. What other cases does Jain face? Jain is facing two other cases: one relating to alleged disproportionate assets, another relating to alleged corruption in a Rs 571 crore project to install CCTV cameras in Delhi. DA CASE: Jain is accused of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the extent of approximately Rs 1.62 crore between February 14, 2015 and May 31, 2017 while functioning as a public servant. CCTV CASE: In March this year, the Delhi government's Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) booked Jain for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 7 crore to waive a penalty of Rs 16 crore imposed on Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) which was installing CCTVs cameras in Delhi. Both cases are being heard in Delhi's Rouse Avenue court. Charges are yet to be framed in either of the two cases.
