Former minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain along with 6 accused were presented in Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday in the Delhi Jal Board scam case. Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had arrested all of them on Tuesday. Court proceedings in the case are ongoing.
ACB has sought 14 days judicial custody in court for Satyendar Jain, former DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai and 5 accused. Meanwhile, police custody has been sought for former DJB contract consultant Ankit Srivastava.
Before court appearance, Jain said – arrest due to Punjab elections
While being taken to court, Satyendar Jain linked his arrest to Punjab elections saying – this has been done because of Punjab elections. His lawyer also raised questions about the arrest procedure and its basis.
Jain’s lawyer told the court that the FIR was registered in May 2024, but Jain was called for the first time on 5 August, 2026 and was arrested on Tuesday after being called again via phone.
The lawyer claimed that there is no solid basis to justify the arrest. Udit Prakash Rai’s lawyer also questioned the arrest, stating that Rai is currently posted as Secretary in the Mizoram government.
Kejriwal’s claims ACB took action on Shah’s phone call
AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah over Jain’s arrest. Kejriwal claimed that until Wednesday morning, ACB had no plan to arrest Jain, but later the arrest was made after a phone call from Amit Shah.
He alleged that now arrests are not happening on the basis of whether someone has committed a crime or not, but it is being decided who should be arrested.
Allegations of irregularities in Delhi Jal Board tender and ₹1.52 crore bribe
According to ACB, the case is related to four tenders for the expansion and upgradation of Sewage Treatment Plants of Delhi Jal Board. The agency alleges that technical conditions were modified in such a way that a particular company would benefit and competition would be limited.
It has also been claimed that evidence including emails and electronic conversations has been found during the investigation. According to ACB, approximately ₹1.52 crore was transferred to the accounts of former DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai and his relatives. The agency is also investigating whether this amount was used to purchase property or not.
FIR was registered on 11 May, 2024
- The ACB had registered an FIR on 11 May, 2024, based on a complaint from the Delhi government’s Vigilance Directorate. It included allegations of irregularities in the tender process, manipulation of terms, and criminal conspiracy.
- Later, the ED also initiated a money laundering investigation in the same case. In December 2025, the ED filed a prosecution complaint against 14 people.
- The agency claimed to have identified funds linked to alleged proceeds of crime worth approximately ₹17.70 crore. Meanwhile, transactions of alleged illegal commission worth approximately ₹6.73 crore were investigated and properties linked to them were attached.
Jain was released in 2024 after spending 872 days in jail
Satyendra Jain was earlier arrested by the ED on 30 May, 2022 in a money laundering case related to disproportionate assets. He came out on bail in October 2024 after spending approximately 872 days in jail.
On 18 October 2024, a Delhi court granted him bail. After coming out of jail, then Delhi CM Atishi and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had met him.
Jain has faced action in several cases before as well
- Assets beyond income: CBI registered a case of assets beyond income against Jain in August 2017. The allegation was that between February 2015 and May 2017, there was an alleged discrepancy of approximately ₹1.47 crore in his assets compared to his known income.
- Money Laundering: In an alleged money laundering case linked to the same CBI case, ED arrested Jain in 2022.
- CCTV Project: In March 2025, Delhi ACB registered a case against Jain regarding alleged corruption in the ₹571 crore CCTV camera project.
- School Classroom Construction: ED also made Jain an accused in 2025 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi government’s classroom construction project.
- Property Attachment: In September 2025, the ED attached immovable properties worth approximately ₹7.44 crore linked to Jain under the money laundering investigation.
