New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, arrested in an alleged money laundering case, has been sent to Enforcement Directorate custody till June 9.
The probe agency, which investigates financial crimes, has alleged that the Minister in the Arvind Kejriwal government was involved in money laundering through Kolkata-based firms in 2015-16.
The Delhi Minister's request for Jain food during the period of custody has been allowed. However, another request of his to visit the Jain temple daily has been rejected.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the probe agency, claimed that Mr Jain acquired disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 1.67 crore during 2015-17.
The agency further submitted that he "transferred his ill-gotten money through hawala operators and got it laundered through Kolkata-based shell companies and the said money was used to purchase land in Delhi".
"During the probe, it has been revealed the shell companies were controlled by two residents of Kolkata. They have admitted that they were making entries with the commission of 15-20 paisa per Rs 100.
The probe agency further said that it did not arrest the Minister at first and called him for questioning. It said that it "tried to investigate without arresting him but he remained evasive".
"Not just mere shareholding but he has the controlling stake. These companies are effectively controlled by him," argued the agency.
The agency had earlier provisionally seized assets worth Rs 4.81 crore of Mr Jain's family and companies "beneficially owned and controlled" by him as part of a money-laundering probe against him.
The counsel for Mr Jain argued that the agency is "just making bold statements" and asked where is the evidence linking the money trail to the Minister.
"The money laundering case was registered in 2018 and now we are in 2022. He was summoned almost six times and he has cooperated every time," argued Mr Jain's lawyer.
Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the case against his Minister is "completely fake and politically motivated". Mr Kejriwal added that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is "staunchly honest" and that he himself would have taken action against Mr Jain if there were even one per cent substance in the case.
The Chief Minister then referenced the sacking of Punjab Minister on corruption charges, spotlighting the party's no-room-for-corruption resolve.
"You saw in Punjab there was an audio recording of a state minister that no probe agency or opposition party had any idea about. We could have suppressed it if we wanted but we initiated action against him on our own and got him arrested," Mr Kejriwal said.