The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a significant step forward in its investigation into alleged irregularities at the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) by lodging its first chargesheet in connection with a money-laundering case.
According to official sources, the prosecution complaint was filed by the federal agency before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi on March 28. Former DJB chief engineer Jagdish Kumar Arora, contractor Anil Kumar Agarwal, former NBCC general manager D K Mittal, Tejinder Singh, and NKG Infrastructure Limited have been named as accused in the chargesheet. The ED alleges that bribe money associated with corruption in a DJB contract was diverted as election funds to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was summoned for questioning in the case by the agency, although he did not appear for deposition. However, Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 in another money-laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the excise policy for Delhi. The ED’s case is founded on an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which accuses Arora of awarding a DJB contract worth Rs 38 crore to NKG Infrastructure Limited, despite the company allegedly failing to meet the technical eligibility criteria. Arora and Agarwal were apprehended by the ED on January 31 in connection with the case. The chargesheet marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into corruption allegations within the DJB. It sheds light on the intricate web of financial transactions and alleged malpractices that have plagued the public utility entity. As the legal proceedings unfold, the public remains keenly observant of the outcomes, particularly concerning the alleged involvement of political entities and the ramifications for governance and accountability. The chargesheet represents a critical milestone in the pursuit of justice and accountability in matters of corruption within public institutions.
