In a significant legal relief for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, the Rouse Avenue Court has granted bail to Satyendar Kumar Jain, former Water Minister of Delhi, in connection with the alleged sewage treatment plant (STP) tender corruption case involving the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The special court allowed the bail application upon the submission of a personal bond of 2 lakh rupees alongside two surety bonds of 2 lakh rupees each. The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) had previously taken Satyendar Jain into custody following an investigation into alleged financial and procedural irregularities in the Jal Board tenders.
Legal Arguments Presented by Defense and ACB
During the court proceedings, senior advocate N. Hariharan, representing Satyendar Kumar Jain, pointed out that the arrest took place 27 months after the initial registration of the FIR. The defense counsel emphasized that during this entire 27-month span, the investigating agency had summoned Jain for questioning only once. He contended that when Jain was called for interrogation a second time, he was abruptly arrested. Furthermore, the defense argued that the entirety of the evidence in this case is documentary in nature, all of which has already been seized and secured by the investigating agencies.
Opposing the bail plea, the Anti-Corruption Branch contended before the bench that Satyendar Jain is a habitual offender. The ACB urged the court to take into account these specific allegations and the background of the case while adjudicating the bail petition. After evaluating the arguments from both sides and reviewing the documentary evidence on record, the court decided to grant bail to the former minister under specified monetary conditions.
Background of the Investigation and FIR Charges
The case originates from FIR No. 10/2024, which was formally registered on 11 May 2024. The investigation was initiated following an official complaint lodged by the Directorate of Vigilance of the Delhi Government. The law enforcement authorities registered the case under several sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 418 (cheating with knowledge of likely wrongful loss), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). ACB officials stated that extensive documentary, electronic, and financial evidence was collected during the probe prior to initiating interrogations.
Details of the Six Arrested Accused
Following the collation of documentary and financial evidence, the Anti-Corruption Branch conducted detailed interrogations and subsequently arrested six individuals on 18 August 2026. The persons arrested in connection with the case include
- Satyendar Kumar Jain: Former Water Minister of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).
- Udit Prakash Rai: IAS officer and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Delhi Jal Board.
- Ankit Srivastava: Former contractual consultant for the Delhi Jal Board.
- Nagendra Yadav: Owner of M/s AN Enterprises.
- Raja Kumar Kurra: Owner of M/s Euroteck Environment Private Limited.
- Pankaj Verma: Owner of M/s Srijanhar.
