Delhi Jal Board Tender Scam: ACB Arrests Satyendar Jain Again 669 Days After Obtaining Bail The Anti-Corruption Branch has arrested former Delhi Water Minister Satyendar Jain over alleged irregularities in Delhi Jal Board's sewage treatment plant tenders. This second arrest comes 669 days after he was granted bail in a money laundering case. Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain faces fresh legal trouble after being arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government on 18 August 2026. The arrest pertains to alleged financial and procedural irregularities in the tenders floated for Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). This marks his second arrest within four years, occurring exactly 669 days after he secured regular bail on 18 October 2024 in an earlier money laundering case. Following an extensive investigation, the ACB took six individuals into custody and initiated court proceedings to remand them to judicial custody. Six Key Accused Taken into Custody by ACB The Anti-Corruption Branch's probe spans political representatives, senior bureaucrats, and private contractors. On Tuesday, six individuals were formally arrested in connection with the tender manipulation scandal - Satyendar Kumar Jain: Former Delhi Water Minister. - Udit Prakash Rai: IAS officer and former CEO of the Delhi Jal Board. - Ankit Srivastava: Former contractual consultant for the Delhi Jal Board. - Nagendra Yadav: Proprietor of M/s AN Enterprises. - Raja Kumar: Owner of M/s Eurotech Environment Pvt Ltd. - Pankaj Verma: Operator of M/s Srijanhar. Legal Framework and FIR Specifications The ACB action stems from a complaint lodged by the Directorate of Vigilance, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), leading to the registration of FIR No. 10/2024. The accused have been booked under Sections 7, 7A, 9, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Additionally, charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been invoked, including Sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 418 (cheating with knowledge of wrongful loss), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). Investigators state that the terms and conditions for upgrading and enhancing the capacity of sewage treatment plants across the capital were manipulated deliberately. The technical specifications in the tender documents were allegedly tailored to ensure that a specific firm, M/s Eurotech Environment Pvt Ltd, emerged as the favored bidder. Satyendar Jain was serving as the Delhi Water Minister when these administrative and technical decisions were taken. Chronology of the IFAS Sewage Treatment Project The official investigation highlights a systematic progression of decisions surrounding the modernization of the capital's sewage infrastructure. According to ACB records, the timeline of the project unfolded as follows - 7 October 2021: A proposal was submitted to introduce Integrated Fixed-film Activated Sludge (IFAS) technology to upgrade and expand the capacity of DJB sewage treatment plants. - 14 October 2021: Then Water Minister Satyendar Kumar Jain granted in-principle approval to the proposal. - 21 & 23 December 2021: High-level meetings were convened under the chairmanship of Satyendar Kumar Jain, attended by then DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai (IAS) and contractual consultant Ankit Srivastava. During these discussions, the Terms of Reference (TOR) were finalized, mandating IFAS technology with fixed media as a core requirement for 100% STP upgrades. - 28 December 2021: A formal proposal drafted by S.C. Vashishth was routed through Ajay Gupta and Udit Prakash Rai, advancing an estimated budget outlay of ₹1,546 crore. Previous Custody Record and 872 Days Behind Bars Satyendar Jain was initially arrested on 30 May 2022 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe originating from a 2017 disproportionate assets case. The ED alleged that between 2015 and 2016, while holding ministerial portfolio, Jain acquired land in and around Delhi using funds laundered through Kolkata-based shell companies and hawala channels. During that first legal ordeal, Jain spent a cumulative period of 872 days in custody (approx. 18 months). He had previously been granted interim bail on medical grounds in May 2023 by the Supreme Court before receiving regular bail from Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on 18 October 2024. The court had cited trial delays and prolonged pre-trial incarceration as primary reasons for granting bail. Exactly 669 days after that release, Jain now faces fresh incarceration under the ACB's tender corruption probe. What this means for you Across India: Increased scrutiny of public infrastructure contracts reinforces demands for transparency in government tender processes. In Delhi: Investigations into sewage treatment tenders could impact administrative approval speed for ongoing Delhi Jal Board sanitation projects. Questions & Answers 1. Why was Satyendar Jain arrested on 18 August 2026? He was arrested by Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) over alleged corruption and irregularities in Delhi Jal Board sewage treatment plant tenders. 2. Who else has been arrested alongside Satyendar Jain? The ACB arrested former DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai (IAS), former consultant Ankit Srivastava, and three private firm owners: Nagendra Yadav, Raja Kumar, and Pankaj Verma. 3. What technology and monetary value are central to this probe? The case involves alleged tender manipulation for upgrading sewage plants using IFAS technology, involving an estimated outlay of ₹1,546 crore. 4. When was Satyendar Jain first arrested and when was he released on bail? He was first arrested in a money laundering case on 30 May 2022 and obtained regular bail on 18 October 2024 after spending 872 days in custody. https://trendkia.com/en/politics/delhi-jal-board-tender-ghotala-669-dina-ki-rihai-ke-bada-acb-ne-satyendar-jain-ko-phira-kiya-giraphtara-18209 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.