AAP leader Atishi says DJB case is backup plan to arrest Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi:

Amid a legal battle between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over multiple summons in the Delhi liquor policy case, the central agency has now asked the AAP leader to appear for questioning in a separate case. Mr Kejriwal has been summoned in connection with a money laundering case related to irregularities at the Delhi JAL Board.

What is Delhi Jal Board

The Delhi Jal Board was established in 1998 and is responsible for the distribution of drinking water across the national capital. The board, also known as the DJB, treats water from sources including the Yamuna River, Bhakra Dam and canals near Delhi. It is also responsible for the collection and treatment of sewage from the New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment areas.

what’s going on

The ED case is based on an FIR registered by the CBI. Former DJB chief engineer Jagdish Kumar Arora is said to have awarded contracts worth Rs 38 crore to NKG Infrastructure Ltd. The contract involves the supply, installation and testing of electromagnetic flow meters. The FIR accuses DJB and NBCC officials of illegally paying bribes to NKG Infrastructure. The ED arrested Mr Arora and contractor Anil Kumar Aggarwal on January 31. It is alleged that NKG Infrastructure obtained the tender on the basis of forged documents and that Mr Arora knew that the company did not meet technical requirements. qualified.

What is the AAP link?

The ED, which is probing the money flow in the case, alleged that Mr Arora accepted bribes in cash and bank accounts after the contract was awarded to NKG Infrastructure. The money was allegedly transferred to various parties, including “personnel associated with AAP”. “The bribe amount was also transferred to the AAP as election funds,” the education ministry statement said. This is the second case involving a central agency alleging kickbacks against the AAP. In a separate case in which Mr Kejriwal was summoned, the ED alleged that AAP used kickbacks from the now-defunct Delhi liquor consumption policy for its Goa poll campaign.

How AAP responded

AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi said “no one knows the implications of the DJB case”. “In any case, this appears to be a backup plan to arrest (Arvind) Kejriwal and prevent him from contesting the Lok Sabha polls,” she told the media. The Delhi Chief Minister has asked to appear in court on Monday to answer questions in the DJB case.