Court Grants Bail to Satyendar Jain in Rohini Sewage Plant Tendering Case
A city court on Thursday granted bail to senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Water Minister Satyendar Jain in a case involving alleged tendering irregularities for sewage treatment plants, including the Rohini facility. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts approved the bail plea following Mr. Jain's arrest on August 18, pointing out an unexplained and extraordinary delay of 27 months between the registration of the FIR and the arrest.
The case stems from an investigation by the Anti Corruption Branch based on a complaint lodged by the Delhi government’s Directorate of Vigilance. The agency alleged that tender conditions contained restrictive technical specifications that improperly favoured a private firm, Euroteck Environmental Private Limited. According to the ACB, Mr. Jain decided to double the planned capacity of the Rohini sewage treatment plant from 15 million gallons per day to 30 million gallons per day without obtaining a technical feasibility assessment, causing an estimated project cost escalation of ₹123 crore.
In the bail order, Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh observed that the prosecution’s material evidence was prima facie insufficient to deny bail. The court noted that the FIR was registered on April 11, 2024, and the prolonged gap indicated that the investigating agency had not deemed Mr. Jain’s physical custody necessary for over two years. The judge added that the prosecution had presented no new or sudden circumstance warranting an arrest at the tail end of the probe.
The court stated that when an accused person participates in an inquiry conducted over years, a sudden arrest without substantial reasons invites criticism of arbitrariness. The judge further observed that Mr. Jain is available for trial and interrogation, poses no flight risk, and no longer holds office as a Minister or an MLA, eliminating the possibility of witness intimidation or evidence tampering.
AAP leaders welcomed the decision, pointing out that Mr. Jain was granted bail within ten days of being taken into custody. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal questioned the basis of the arrest on social media, noting that Mr. Jain was placed straight into judicial custody without police custody interrogation. Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj also commented on the decision.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party president Harsh Malhotra contested AAP's response, stating that obtaining bail does not amount to an acquittal. He maintained that the agency has gathered sufficient evidence to pursue the trial and seek convictions against those implicated.
