Delhi Minister Satyender Jain, who has been in jail since June, awaiting trial in a money laundering case against him has found himself in the eye of a political storm over leaked videos showing him getting special treatment in jail. In a significant turn on Sunday, Jain will not be allowed any visitors for the next 15 days and "facilities" such as a table and chair in his cell will be removed, NDTV reported.
Committee looked into special treatment to Jain
The move followed the recommendations of a committee formed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena after CCTV footage from his cell was leaked on social media last month. The videos showed the minister getting a massage, special food, and having visitors in his cell.
In addition to new rules for Jain in prison, the committee also found "collusion" on the part of the then head of the prison, Sandeep Goel with the AAP leader, and has recommended departmental proceedings against the official for extending "VIP treatment" to the minister.
Jain approached court over CCTV row
Against this backdrop, the minister had even approached a Delhi court seeking directions to restrain media from running any video footage from inside his prison cell.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had then affirmed before the court that it had no role in leaking the videos of Jain, including the one where he was seen receiving massage by a fellow prisoner, who is an accused in a rape case, inside his prison cell.
The court had earlier ordered the ED and Jain's legal team not to leak any content of affidavits and video in this regard and had taken their undertakings in the matter. The court had, however, refused to put any restriction on or pass any direction to the media.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Arvind Kejriwal said that the video leaks were aimed at tarnishing the party's image ahead of crucial MCD elections. The party clarified the massages as physiotherapy and home-cooked meals, saying they had been cleared by doctors and courts.
This 15-day hiatus for visitors in Jain's cell comes shortly after the AAP swept the MCD polls, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party by a significant margin.
The federal anti-money laundering agency had arrested Jain in a case based on a CBI FIR lodged against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Jain is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him.
