NEW DELHI: Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday reserved its order on the bail plea of AAP leader Satyendar Jain in the alleged Delhi Jal Board (DJB) sewage treatment plant (STP) tender scam case.The court is scheduled to pronounce its order on September 3.Jain, who was arrested in connection with the case, said, “Satyamev Jayate” after the hearing.On August 19, Jain was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court, a day after being arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in connection with the alleged Delhi Jal Board (DJB) sewage treatment plant (STP) tender scam, according to news agency ANI.The ACB has accused Jain of alleged large-scale irregularities, manipulation of tender conditions and criminal conspiracy in the tendering process for the augmentation and upgradation of STPs under the DJB.The agency has arrested six people in the case linked to an FIR registered on May 11, 2024, under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.Those arrested include Satyendar Kumar Jain; former DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai (IAS), who served as a contractual consultant; Ankit Srivastava; Nagendra Yadav, proprietor of M/s AN Enterprises; Raja Kumar Kurra, owner of M/s Euroteck Environment Pvt. Ltd.; and Pankaj Verma, proprietor of M/s Srijanhar, ANI reported.According to the ACB, the case stems from a complaint by the Directorate of Vigilance of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), which flagged alleged irregularities in the tender process for upgrading and augmenting STPs.The agency alleged that the tender conditions were tailored to favour a private technology company, M/s Euroteck Environment Pvt. Ltd., by incorporating restrictive technical specifications that allegedly limited competition.During the investigation, the ACB claimed to have found that a proposed pilot study was not carried out, technical specifications were altered during the tender process and corrigenda were issued in a manner that allegedly benefited the firm.The agency further alleged that electronic evidence showed tender documents and certain conditions were exchanged among the accused before being incorporated into the official DJB tender notice.According to the ACB, communications between officials and private entities also pointed to an alleged coordinated effort to influence the procurement process.The agency said all six accused were questioned before being arrested on August 18 and added that the probe into the alleged money trail and proceeds of crime is ongoing.(With Agency Inputs)
