Arvind Kejriwal said Satyendar Jain had been targeted for political reasons. (File)
Arvind Kejriwal today strongly defended Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, who has been arrested in a money laundering case, and said the allegations against him are "completely fake".
"I have read Satyendar Jain's documents myself. All allegations are fake. The entire case is fake. If there was even 1% truth in them, I would have taken action long back. The truth always wins. They have slapped cases on so many of our MLAs, and on me. Satyendar Jain will also be cleared," Arvind Kejriwal said in his first video statement since the minister's arrest.
Calling Mr Jain a patriot and honest, the Delhi Chief Minister also addressed the jailed minister's wife and children, saying he could "understand" what they must be going through.
"Bhabhi ji, your husband is very courageous. Children, your father is very courageous. He gave us the model of a mohalla clinic. He gave the country a health model of free treatment. The entire country is proud of him. God is with him," Mr Kejriwal said.
Satyendar Jain, the Delhi Health Minister, was arrested yesterday in an alleged money laundering case. He was sent to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till June 9.
"Satyendar Jain is a patriot. We can't betray the country. We had turned in our own minister for corruption. No one in the world or politics has seen this sort of honesty. The day we sent a Punjab Minister to jail, people were moved to tears," Mr Kejriwal said.
"Our party runs on the ideals of Bhagat Singh. Every AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) worker knows that if they want to stay in the party, they should be ready to sacrifice their lives and go to jail. He is brave, a hardcore patriot and this experience will only strengthen his resolve"
The Delhi Chief Minister said Mr Jain had been targeted for political reasons by the BJP-led Centre.
The probe agency, which investigates financial crimes, has alleged that Mr Jain was involved in money laundering through Kolkata-based firms in 2015-16.