Delhi ACB Books Senior AAP Leader Over Alleged ₹571 Crore CCTV Project Scam
The Delhi government’s anti-corruption bureau has booked senior AAP leader Satyendar Jain over alleged corruption linked to a ₹571 crore CCTV project, a move that opposition figures are calling a “political witch hunt.”
Allegations of Political Targeting
Delhi Leader of Opposition Atishi has strongly criticized the booking of Jain, alleging that it is part of a politically motivated campaign against him. In a post on X, Atishi shared a document containing the BJP-led Centre’s response in Parliament, which revealed that only two out of 193 cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate against political leaders over the past decade have resulted in convictions. “When investigating agencies leave their work and start political witch-hunting on the orders of the boss,” she remarked, suggesting that Jain’s case is not driven by genuine anti-corruption concerns.
Details of the Case
The case against Jain arises after he was booked by the Delhi anti-corruption bureau under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Joint Commissioner of Police (ACB) Madhur Verma stated that Jain is accused of arbitrarily waiving a ₹16 crore fine imposed on Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for delays in the CCTV project. This decision came despite residents’ complaints about several cameras being non-functional.
Additional Accusations
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva further intensified the controversy on X, accusing Jain of accepting a ₹7 crore bribe in exchange for waiving the fine. Sachdeva alleged that, in 2017-18, the Kejriwal government awarded a contract worth ₹571 crore to BEL for installing CCTV cameras across Delhi. According to Sachdeva, delays in the project led to a penalty of ₹16 crore in 2019—a penalty that was allegedly waived by Jain after taking a bribe. He also claimed that former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had long covered up Jain’s corruption.
The anti-corruption bureau completed its investigation in 2023; however, the filing of the FIR was reportedly delayed due to what some have called an “AAP cover-up act.”
As the case unfolds, opposition leaders continue to decry the booking as a politically charged move rather than a genuine effort to address corruption.
