'Was kept under solitary confinement for months ...': AAP leader Satyendar Jain a day after getting bail

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi minister and senior AAP leader leader Satyendar Jain, after being granted bail by the Rouse Avenue Court, has spoken out against the central government on Saturday, accusing it of using legal cases to suppress AAP leaders and hinder their efforts to bring about political change.

Jain was arrested in May 2022 in connection with a money laundering case and special judge Vishal Gogne granted him bail.

Recounting his time in jail, Jain claimed, "I had almost died," and shared his belief that the government's actions were aimed at breaking AAP leaders' resolve.

"Had there been no democracy, the central government would have hanged me by now," he said, referencing the recent arrests of other AAP leaders.

He also reiterated a warning from party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, saying, "Arvind Kejriwal said that we will have to go to jail if we try to bring about a change."

Reflecting on his time in jail, Jain accused the authorities of attempting to break the spirit of AAP leaders. "After going to jail, so many of our leaders always thought why do they want to break us? We thought a lot about it and we came to the conclusion that they just want to stop us and the change we brought," he added.

Jain also pointed out the lengthy duration of the case against him, which he said has dragged on for over seven years without a conclusion. "The inquiry hasn't been completed so far. Their only aim was to arrest me, Manish Sisodia, and Arvind Kejriwal," former Delhi minister said, accusing the government of using the legal process as a tool of harassment.

Jain said that he was kept in solitary confinement for months, addressed the controversy surrounding CCTV footage from his jail cell that was widely circulated, showing what some described as him receiving special treatment.

"The footage created a lot of noise about the good time I was having in jail, but those facilities were provided to all the inmates," he said. He further revealed the toll prison life took on him, saying, "I had lost 40 kg in jail, but they will never show this to the people. I had almost died."