Delhi minister Satyendar Jain getting ‘special’ facilities in Tihar Jail, ED tells court

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a court on Wednesday that Delhi minister Satyendar Jain had been given “special treatment” in his Tihar Jail cell in the form of massages, food, papers, and is meeting with people, including other accused, beyond permissible hours. Opposing Jain’s bail plea, the agency also submitted photographs extracted from the CCTV footage of the prison to back its claims.
“Unknown persons were giving massages and foot massages to Jain even beyond curfew hours.He was given special food. He is being given papers. Most of the time he is either in hospital or in jail enjoying these facilities,” additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju submitted in the court of special judge Vikas Dhull in an alleged money laundering case.
Citing a photo, Raju, who appeared for ED, said, “Please see how the jailor is sitting and how the accused is. This clearly shows that he (Jain) is in a dominating position.” Jain has also been meeting other accused Ankush and Vaibhav Jain in his cell beyond permissible hours and he is not meant to enjoy these facilities, the ASG alleged. All three are in judicial custody.
The ASG referred to the statement of one Pankul Aggarwal, who had told the court that “dummy” people were made directors of a company reportedly involved in the case and actual dealings were carried out by Jain. “Here the person has not been made a director because of any competence. He is a director only because his mother used to walk with Jain’s wife,” Raju claimed, adding that it showed that Jain was in total control of the company. The “corporate veil” has to be lifted, the culprit has to be seen, Raju said.
A company cannot commit an offence as it is an “artificial entity”, but the person in control can, Raju pointed out. “Why would a company in Kolkata give something to a company in Delhi? There must be something. They got commission. It was not their money, but Jain’s. That’s money laundering. There is no better example of money laundering than this case,” he alleged, adding that Jain was the beneficial owner. The ED also claimed that the minister had given false evidence and this had to be considered while considering the bail plea.
While Raju concluded arguing for ED on Wednesday, the lawyers of Ankush and Vaibhav will make their submissions on Thursday. ED started the money laundering investigation based on a case registered by CBI in 2017 under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.