Fresh summons issued to Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi Jal Board case: What you need to know

PTC News Desk: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case associated with alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). This development emerges amidst the ongoing legal conflict between Kejriwal and the ED regarding multiple summonses related to the Delhi liquor policy case.

The case under investigation by the ED stems from an FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleges corruption in the Delhi Jal Board's awarding of a Rs 38-crore contract to NKG Infrastructure Limited.

Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been called in for questioning by the central agency in relation to these allegations. This summons adds to the legal challenges faced by Kejriwal, as he navigates through various legal matters concerning his role in governmental decisions and policies.

What is Delhi Jal Board ?

Established in 1998, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is tasked with the distribution of potable water throughout the national capital. Commonly referred to as DJB, the board is entrusted with the treatment of water from various sources including the Yamuna River, Bhakra Dam, and nearby canals. Additionally, it oversees the collection and disposal of sewage from regions falling under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment.

What Is The Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) case stems from an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It revolves around allegations concerning the former chief engineer of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Jagdish Kumar Arora, who purportedly awarded a ₹38-crore contract to NKG Infrastructure Limited. This contract pertained to the supply, installation, and testing of electromagnetic flow meters. According to the FIR, officials from DJB and NBCC purportedly favored NKG Infrastructure unlawfully in exchange for a bribe.

On January 31, Mr. Arora and a contractor named Anil Kumar Aggarwal were arrested by the ED. The investigation suggests that NKG Infrastructure secured the bid through forged documents, and Mr. Arora was allegedly cognizant of the company's lack of technical eligibility.

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What Is The AAP Link

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its investigation into the money trail of the case, has asserted that Mr. Arora received bribes in both cash and bank accounts following the award of the contract to NKG Infrastructure. Allegedly, these funds were then dispersed to various entities, including those affiliated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). According to an ED statement, bribes were also channeled as election funds to AAP. This marks the second instance where the central agency has implicated AAP in receiving kickbacks. In another case where Mr. Kejriwal has been summoned, the ED alleges that funds obtained through kickbacks from the now-defunct Delhi liquor excise policy were utilized by AAP for its electoral campaign in Goa.

AAP's Response

Atishi, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a minister in the Delhi government, has expressed uncertainty regarding the nature of the DJB case, stating, "Nobody knows what this DJB case is about." She further suggested that the summons to Arvind Kejriwal could be perceived as a contingency plan to detain him and impede his participation in the Lok Sabha elections campaign. The Delhi Chief Minister has been requested to present himself before the agency on Monday for interrogation regarding the DJB case.

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(Inputs from agencies)