The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has registered a case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former MLA Satyendar Jain, alleging corruption and bribery related to the Rs 571 crore CCTV project in the national capital.
According to Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police (CP) and Head of ACB, Jain allegedly accepted a Rs 7 crore bribe to waive liquidated damages worth Rs 16 crore for project delays. Despite the delays, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was granted additional orders for another 1.4 lakh cameras.
The bribe was reportedly funnelled through contractors who benefited from these additional contracts. ACB officials claim the project was executed poorly, with several cameras dysfunctional at the time of handover, and payments allegedly inflated to accommodate bribery.
Legal proceedings
An FIR has been registered against Jain under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Additionally, he faces charges under Sections 7/13(1)(a) of the POC Act and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
A BEL officer has already been questioned and confirmed the allegations, while ACB is scrutinising documents from PWD and BEL for further evidence.
Over a month ago, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sought the President’s approval to prosecute Jain under the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, based on evidence provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
(With ANI inputs)
