CBI questions Satyendar Jain for second day

The Central Bureau of Investigation questioned Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain for the second consecutive day on Friday in connection with a money laundering probe.

"Jain was again questioned by the CBI officers at the headquarters in a money laundering case. He appeared before the investigators around 3 p.m. and was questioned till 8 p.m.," a CBI official said.

On Thursday, he was questioned by the CBI for around eight hours.

The CBI in April launched a probe against Jain and registered a preliminary inquiry against the Aam Aadmi Party leader, who is known to be close to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The agency registered the preliminary inquiry against Jain, based on evidences it had collected against him in connection with money laundering totalling Rs 4.63 crore in 2015-16.

He is accused of being involved in the crime through Kolkata-based companies Prayas Info Pvt Ltd, Akichand Developers and Mangalyatan Project Pvt Ltd.

Jain is also accused of purported money laundering totalling Rs 11.78 crore in 2010-12 through these companies and Delhi-based Indo-Metal Index Pvt Ltd. It was alleged that the money was given in cash by Jain through his employees and public associates to Kolkata-based entry operators and shell companies.

Thereafter, the entry operators allegedly routed the black money in the form of investment in shares of Prayas Info Pvt Ltd, Akichand Developers, Mangalyatan Project Pvt Ltd and Indo-Metal Index Pvt Ltd – all controlled by Jain, the CBI official said. "The shares were bought at a premium of 60 times the unit price."

Jain had technically resigned from the directorship of the companies in view of the 2013 Delhi assembly election, the official said.