New Delhi: Delhi Government Minister Satyendar Jain was sent to Enforcement Directorate custody till June 13, by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court. Jain was arrested on charges of money laundering.
Jain’s health deteriorated after he came out of the courtroom after the court’s order. He was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after he complained of breathlessness. Advocate appearing for Jain said that Jain has many diseases. He also had Covid-19. He said that Jain is suffering from dyspepsia and is upset with the way the ED is investigating.
During the hearing, ED sought five days custody of Jain. The ED said that Jain is not cooperating. The ED said that other beneficiaries in this case are yet to be traced.
Opposing the ED’s demand for custody of Jain, his lawyer said that even after nine days of interrogation, the ED is seeking custody which means they did not utilize the time given for interrogation. The counsel accused that ED wants to forcibly confess the crime.
On May 31, the court sent the Delhi minister to ED custody. He was arrested on May 30. During Jain’s appearance, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the ED had said that the cash, given in Delhi to entry operators in Kolkata through hawala, was invested in buying shares of fake companies and buy land. Agricultural land was purchased through an NGO named Prayas.
The court had asked Mehta whether he was referring to the transactions of 2015-17. To which Mehta agreed. Mehta said that the ED called Jain for investigation, but he did not cooperate in the investigation. Mehta had said that “we have to find out whether the money belonged to someone else or not and who has benefited from this money”. He had said that this matter is not only of Rs 4.81 crore.
Earlier ED had on Tuesday while conducting raids at various places including Jain’s residence and his associates had recovered over Rs 2 crore and 133 gold coins weighing 1.80 kgs.