CBI quizzes Delhi health minister Jain

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Thursday questioned Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain with regard to a preliminary enquiry (PE) into accusations of money laundering lodged against him around two months ago. A PE is conducted to ascertain if accusations levelled against a person merit a probe.

Officials from the investigation agency told HT that Jain’s interrogation began around 11am, and continued till late evening. The senior Aam Aadmi Party leader may be questioned again, they added.

The CBI registered the PE on April 11 to probe allegations that Jain had laundered over ~4 crore through a network of shell companies. The agency filed the PE based on “source information”, said its spokesperson RK Gaur.

“We called Mr Jain to the CBI headquarters to obtain his response to the allegations levelled against him,” Gaur said.

The charges against Jain include using private companies to launder money since 2010, way before his political career took off. “It was also alleged that Jain laundered around ~4.63 crore during 2015-16 through three private firms — Prayas Info Solutions Private Limited, Akinchand Developers Private Limited and Managalyatan Projects Private Limited,” an agency official said.

CBI sources claimed Jain quit his positions in these companies, but continued to control them informally during his tenure as a government servant.