Money laundering case: CBI questions Satyendar Jain's wife

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team on Monday questioned Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's wife in connection with allegations of money laundering.

Reacting to the development, the Delhi government accused the Centre of using the "caged parrot" CBI to "silence dissenters".

A CBI official said the team sought clarifications from her. The agency in April had launched a probe against Jai and registered a preliminary inquiry against him, based on evidence collected against him in connection with 'laundering' Rs 4.63 crore in 2015-16.

Jain was accused of being involved in money laundering through some Kolkata-based companies. He was also accused of laundering Rs 11.78 crore in 2010-12 through these companies and a Delhi-based company.

The matter was referred to the CBI by the Income Tax Department, which in September 2016 summoned Jain for his alleged links with the firms that were under scanner for alleged hawala or proxy transactions. Jain has denied the charges against him.

AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj, addressing a press conference, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the CBI and I-T Department for fabricating evidence against Jain.

According to the BJP-led Centre, Jain has used two men -- Sanjay and Suresh -- for sending hawala money to businessmen in Kolkata. Bhardwaj, however, said that these two persons did not exist.

The AAP leader claimed that the BJP has presented two non-existing persons and despite Jain's request, the probe agency has failed to present them before the Minister.

Elaborating on the allegations, Bhardwaj said that the BJP claimed that a landline number was used to make phone calls to businessmen in Kolkata but the number has been out of service since 2014. He added that the landline number did not have a STD facility.

One of the witnesses, Babloo Pathak, has denied any relation with Jain after he was brought face-to-face with the Minister.

Bhardwaj challenged CBI to confront three more witnesses, examined by it, with Jain so as to bring out the truth. He said that the agency turned down the request to confront the witnesses with Jain.

"Another day, another raid! CBI now raids Minister Jain's residence. Centre trying to silence dissenters via caged parrot," Delhi government spokesperson Arunoday Prakash tweeted.

"BJP model: You make Mohalla Clinics, save money in projects, (provide) free medicines, tests and surgeries... We (the BJP) will keep troubling you with CBI, IT (Income Tax Department), ED (Enforcement Directorate)," he added.