Arvind Kejriwal, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister was questioned by the BJP on Wednesday as to why he was protecting Minister Satyender Jain, who is was remanded in ED custody in a money laundering case, also questioning why he was being allowed to remain in government.
Kejriwal ji yesterday said corruption tantamount to desh ki gaddari. Does he know he is patronising those who have deceived the treasury and the people? Should he be declared as a desh ka gaddar? How long will he receive his support?" asked Smriti Irani, a Union Minister and senior BJP leader during a press conference at BJP's headquarters, according to the Indian Express.
Throwing a number of questions at Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party, Smriti Irani asked, "Was it not true that Principal Commissioner of Income Tax had stated that Satendar Jain himself was the rightful owner of Rs 16.39 crore black money?" The BJP leader also recalled that a 2019 order of division bench in a Delhi High Court had confirmed that Satender Jain was involved in money laundering.
"My first question is to Arvind Kejriwal ji. Can he clarify that Satendar Jain has given Rs 16.39 crore to four shell companies through his family members, through 56 shell companies, with the help of hawala operators from 2010-16?" Irani asked and added that Jain himself had admitted to it.
The BJP leader said these shell companies were Indo Metallic Impex Private Limited, Akinchan Developers Private Limited, Prayas Info Solution Private Limited, and Mangalyatan Projects Private Limited.
"Kejriwal ji, should such a person continue to be a minister in your government even today?" she added.
The minister also accused Jain of taking over the ownership of 200 bigas of land in various parts of Delhi for his own gain.
CBI court on Tuesday remanded Satyender Jain in custody till June 9 in a money laundering case. Jain was arrested a day before in a money laundering case based on the CBI's First Information Report (FIR) filed against the AAP leader in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. It is alleged that the money was laundered through four companies associated with Jain.