‘Jain got massages in jail by a rape accused’

A man who was seen in video clips giving Delhi minister Satyendar Jain massages in his Tihar jail cell is not a physiotherapist but an inmate accused of raping a minor, prison officials said on Tuesday, prompting another onslaught by the BJP, which called for the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s sacking as a minister.

A video of Jain was widely shared on social media last week in which he was seen getting massages from a man inside his jail cell — the AAP leader is in judicial custody for the past five months over money-laundering charges — sparking allegations that he was being given special treatment in prison.

In response, the AAP said that Jain was being given physiotherapy on the recommendation of doctors. “He (the person giving the massage) is lodged in Tihar jail for raping a minor. A case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (Pocso) Act is registered against him. Rinku is not a physiotherapist,” a Tihar official said on Tuesday, asking not to be named. At a press conference on Tuesday, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia demanded that Jain be sacked.

“The person giving massage to Jain is accused under Pocso Act. Why is a person, accused of a heinous crime, giving Jain a massage? It was possible because Jain enjoys the protection of Kejriwal. It is not wrong to say that Kejriwal, who took oath to protect the people, is now protecting a person accused of raping a minor. The accused is giving massage [to Jain] and in return Kejriwal will give him protection,” Bhatia said.