DJB money laundering case: "Proceeds of crime transferred for election funding of AAP," alleges ED charge sheet

New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that Part of the proceeds of the crime was transferred by former Delhi Jal Board Chief Engineer and other officers for election funding of Aam Aadmi Party.
The ED has said that the investigation is ongoing. This case is related to alleged irregularities in the tendering process for procurement of electromagnetic flow metres of Delhi Jal Board. ED lodged a case of money laundering on the basis of the case of CBI.
Special judge Bhupinder Singh has taken cognizance of the charge sheet filed by ED.
ED charge sheet said, "Further, the investigation revealed that out of Proceed of Crime (Bribe) to the tune of Rs 2,00,78,242, which had been acquired by Jagdish Kumar Arora, was transferred by him through Tajinder Pal Singh to various persons including other officers of Delhi Jal Board."
"Investigation also revealed that Jagdish Kumar Arora and other officers of Delhi Jal Board further transferred part of said PoC for election funding of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)," ED said.
ED added that Investigation with respect to final utilisation of the proceeds of crime (PoC) amounting to Rs 2,00,78,242 which was transferred to various persons including officers of Delhi Jal Board and for election funding of AAP.
It is alleged that former DJB Chief Engineer Jagdish Kumar Arora received Proceed of Crime Rs. 3.19 crores through CA Tajinder Pal Singh.
ED said that in respect of the said DJB contract of Rs 38 Cr, out of total the payments of Rs. 24,74,71,376 disbursed by DJB, funds to the tune of Rs. 10,62,22,694 were not utilized in the performance of the contract and were either retained by Integral Screw Industries and lws NKG Infrastructure Ltd or were paid to Jagdish Kumar Arora as illegal gratification/bribe and is therefore proceeds of crime within the terms of Section 2(1)(u) of PMLA, 2002 as the same was derived or obtained as a result of criminal activity of award of contract on the basis of false documents.
It is also stated that residence of Bibhav Kumar was also raided during the investigation.
"Thus, Jagdish Kumar Arora was actually and knowingly involved in concealment of PoC to the tune of Rs. 3.19 Crores. Jagdish Kumar Arora was also actually and knowingly involved in concealment of PoC of Rs.36, 35,368 by covertly investing the same in immovable property by inter-mingling with funds (Rs 28,60,250) from other sources," the charge sheet said.
During the hearing, Tejinder Pal Singh appeared in the Court on summons.
Devender Mittal was exempted for today as he was hospitalized.
Accused Tejinder Pal Singh and Devender Mittal have moved bail applications and the same is likely to be taken up tomorrow by the court.
The other two accused Jagdish Arora and Anil Agarwal were produced from Judicial custody.
The Court directed the ED to supply a copy of the charge sheet along with documents to the accused persons.
The date for the scrutiny of documents is April 20.
The Rouse Avenue court on April 3, took cognizance of Enforcement Directorate's Charge sheet filed in an alleged money laundering case against a former Chief Engineer of Delhi Jal Board (DJB), a contractor, a CA Tejinder Pal Singh, a former NBCC officer Devender Mittal and a firm namely NKG Infrastructure Ltd.
ED had arrested former chief Engineer Jagdish Arora and contractor Anil Kumar Agarwal in this case. Other two accused have been charged sheeted without arrest.
After taking cognizance, Special judge Bhupinder Singh issued summons to the accused and production warrant of Arora and Agarwal accused who are in judicial custody.
Special Judge Singh had said, "As such, cognizance of offence of Money Laundering as defined Under section 3 read with Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, punishable under Section 4 of the said Act is hereby taken by this Court."
"Accordingly, NKG Infrastructure Ltd. (through its authorized representative) which is a Company, Tajinder Pal Singh and Devender Kumar Mittal, who have not been arrested in the present case be summoned and production warrants be issued against Accused Jagdish Kumar Arora and Anil Kumar Aggarwal, who are in custody in the present matter, through concerned Jail Superintendent to appear in person for facing the trial for the aforesaid offence, for the next date of hearing," the special ordered on April 3 said.
"From the material placed on record, it appears that all the Accused persons/Company are either directly or indirectly found to be indulged or knowingly assisted or have been a party to or actually involved in the process or activities relating to the relation of the proceeds of crime or its concealment, possession, acquisition, use and projecting or claiming the same as untainted property," the court observed.
The court said in the order of cognizance that in the opinion of the court, there is sufficient material on record to proceed against the Accused persons for the charges mentioned against them in the complaint."
As per ED's complaint Accused NKG Infrastructure Ltd. got the tender for Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning (SITC) of electromagnetic flow meters and corresponding O&M Operations for five years which was floated by Delhi Jal Board through Notice Inviting Tender (NIT), on the basis of false performance certificates issued by Accused D.K. Mittal, the then General Manager (Faridabad Zone) NBCC (India Ltd.).
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Manish Jain along with advocate Snehal Sharda and Ishan Baisla appeared for ED.
SPP Jain further alleged that the work was sub-contracted to Integral Screw Industries Ltd., Proprietorship Firm of Accused Anil Kumar Aggarwal.
It is also stated that out of the amount of Rs.24,74,71,376/- released by Delhi Jal Board to NKG Infrastructure Ltd. against the work awarded to it, Rs. 10,62,22,694 was generated into proceeds of crime, and shared by NKG Infrastructure Ltd., Accused Anil Kumar Aggarwal, Accused Jagdish Kumar Arora, the then Chief Engineer, Delhi Jal Board who awarded the contract to NKG Infrastructure Ltd., which was transferred/routed to him through Accused Tajinder Pal Singh. (ANI)