Over Rs 2 crore transferred for funding AAP polls: ED chargesheet in DJB case

PROCEEDS OF crime worth over Rs 2 crore were transferred to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officers and others for funding elections for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged in its chargesheet in the money laundering case against the water utility.

A Delhi court took cognizance of the chargesheet on Wednesday.

Four persons and NKG Infrastructure Ltd have been named as the accused.

The probe is related to money laundering charges in a July 2022 case, where the DJB allegedly provided a company — NKG Infrastructure Ltd — with "undue advantages" for supplying, installing, testing, and commissioning electro-magnetic flow meters in “connivance” with NBCC (lndia) Ltd officials.

The project was valued at around Rs 38 crore, says the chargesheet, adding that one of the accused Anil Kumar Aggarwal, the proprietor of Integral Screw industries, which had taken sub-contract from NKG Infrastructure Ltd, to execute a DJB contract of electromagnetic flow meters at different sites — had entered into a criminal conspiracy with late N K Garg, the then director of NKG Infrastructure Ltd.

The ED chargesheet said: "…an illegal bribe to the tune of Rs 3.19 crore was paid to Jagdish Kumar Arora through his close associate and chartered accountant Tajinder Pal for giving undue favours in award of a DJB contract. Arora, through Tajinder Pal Singh, utilised Rs 1.18 crore for purchase/ booking of properties and incurring personal expenses. The remaining POC (proceeds of crime) of Rs 2.01 crore was transferred to different persons, including other DJB officers... as well as funding for elections to the AAP."

The AAP has been mentioned five times in the chargesheet.

The ED also alleged that "false performance certificates" were issued by another accused, D K Mittal, the then GM (Faridabad zone) of NBCC (India) Ltd, in favour of NKG Infrastructure Ltd.

It was on the basis of these certificates that the company was awarded the contract. "Proceeds of crime to the tune of over Rs 2 crore were acquired by Aggarwal, and transferred through accused Tajinder Pal Singh, to different persons, including other officers of DJB,” the agency said.

On January 31, ED arrested Aggarwal and Arora for their alleged involvement in the case.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also issued a summons by the investigating agency during the probe but he did not appear on March 18, as asked.

In February, searches were also conducted at the residence of Bibhav Kumar, Private Secretary to Kejriwal, as part of the investigation. This also finds mention in the chargesheet.

Probe related to money laundering charges in a July 2022 case, where DJB provided firm with ‘undue advantages’