An inquiry committee constituted by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena found that jailed Delhi minister Satyendar Jain met co-accused in a money laundering case as well as family members in Tihar Jail.
Jain met co-accused as well as family members in the money laundering case at Tihar Jail where he “misused” his position to get VIP treatment, official sources said on Wednesday.
Collusion between Jain and the then Director General (Prisons): Probe body
In its report, the probe committee also claimed a “nexus” between Jain and the then Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel over the “VIP treatment” given to the minister in jail.
There was no immediate reaction available from the AAP or Goyal on the report’s findings.
Jain, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case on May 31, was being provided various services in the jail by five inmates and other jail staff, a copy of the report revealed.
It said two inmates – Rinku who was seen in an alleged video massaging Jain in his cell and Manish who provided fruits and outside food to Jain – are accused under the POCSO Act for raping minors .
According to the report, Rinku told the committee members that he had no training in massage or physiotherapy and worked as a supplier of mares for ‘Ghudchadhi’ ceremonies at weddings.
After the ED claimed in a city court that Jain was being provided “special facilities” inside Tihar Jail, Saxena set up an inquiry committee comprising principal secretaries of home, law and vigilance departments.
The committee has also recommended “departmental action” against Goyal for giving “VIP treatment” to Jain. Goyal was transferred after jailed Sukesh Chandrasekhar accused him of taking money. Tihar Jail Superintendent Ajit Kumar has been suspended.
“…in violation of jail rules, Jain often held court in his room with co-accused in the money laundering case in which he was arrested. These co-accused, apart from Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain, included Sanjay Gupta and Raman Bhuraria, who is an accused in other cases filed by the ED,” the report said.
The committee also found that Jain’s wife and other family members “frequently” met him at “restricted places” in the jail in “gross violation” of rules and in “connivance” with senior jail officials, including Goyal and Kumar.
The report cited eight meetings of Jain with his wife and other family members in Tihar between September 16 and October 13.
The report also claimed that Goyal met Jain in his cell on 6 October for about 50 minutes, while Kumar met the minister for 15 minutes on 12 September.
The report cited his statements as saying that the prison authorities “pressured” the inmates to provide “special services” to Jain.
The minister allegedly used the jail account cards of other inmates to buy fruits, food and other items for personal use. The committee claimed in the report that the cards were recharged by the warden and other inmates.
Several purported videos of Jain meeting visitors and the jail superintendent, eating fruits and vegetables and getting massages in his jail cell have gone viral, giving BJP weapons to attack the AAP. It has also demanded Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to sack Jain from his post.
(with PTI inputs)
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