"Desperate attempt by BJP": AAP's Priyanka Kakkar after ACB books Satyendra Jain in CCTV project case

New Delhi [India], March 19 (ANI): After the Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) booked a case against AAP leader Satyendar Jain, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Wednesday dismissed the allegation as a "desperate attempt" by the BJP, urging the party to focus on taking action against those who have looted the country's resources and fled.
"The allegation is that a central government company paid a bribe of Rs seven crore to the then AAP-led state government to waive off their Rs 16 crore fine. This is a desperate attempt by the BJP... The BJP should ask its agencies to take action against those who looted the country's money and fled... The BJP should use its investigative agencies to catch the real culprits," Kakkar told ANI.
The Delhi government's anti-corruption branch (ACB) on Wednesday registered a case against AAP leader and former MLA Satyendar Jain, alleging corruption and bribery in connection with the Rs 571 crore CCTV project for the national capital.
According to Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of Police (CP) and Head of ACB, the liquidated damages worth Rs 16 crore were allegedly arbitrarily waived by receiving a bribe of Rs 7 crore.
An FIR was registered against former Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Jain under section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, after receiving previous approval from the competent authority.
ACB said, "Bribery of Rs 7 crore was allegedly arranged to be paid to Satyendra Jain to waive off the Rs 16 crore penalty for delays in CCTV installation."
Despite previous delays, Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) received additional orders for another 1.4 lakh cameras under the project. The bribe was allegedly paid through contractors who benefited from the additional orders.
According to officials, the project was allegedly carried out in a "shoddy manner", with many cameras being dysfunctional even at the time of project handover. Moreover, payments were artificially inflated to accommodate the bribes involving different vendors.
ACB has already examined a BEL officer, who confirmed the allegations and provided a detailed complaint.
Documents from PWD and BEL are being scrutinized for further evidence. (ANI)