Satyendar Jain faces fresh fire as CBI to file new case

New Delhi: The noose seems to be tightening around Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain as the CBI is preparing to convert its another preliminary enquiry (PE), pertaining to the alleged irregularities in hiring 24 architects to set up a creative team for the Public Works Department (PWD) through a detective agency, into a regular case. Mr Jain also holds additional charge of the Public Works Department.

“The CBI has scrutinised all documents pertaining to the PWD’s decision to hire architects through a detective agency as part of its investigation into a regular case. It will soon be converted into a regular case. The agency has also decided to seek clarifications from Jain next week in connection with the case,” sources said.

“There are allegations that the minister tweaked the tender documents to facilitate the contract for hiring 24 professionals who were to work on mohalla clinics and other PWD projects,” sources added. Preliminary investigation by the agency has revealed that the detective agency was ineligible for bidding, but the minister tweaked the tender process to bring it on board, they added.

Besides, the CBI is also planning to examine Mr Jain in connection with the alleged irregularities in the appointment of Nikunj Aggarwal as his OSD. “There are allegations that Dr Aggarwal was appointed as senior resident (ortho) in Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalya on an ad-hoc basis on August 10, 2015, even though there was no proposal to engage a senior resident. Within a few days of his (Dr Aggarwal) appointment as senior resident, his services were requisitioned for appointment as OSD to minister of health, Delhi government. As per the Residency Scheme, the resident doctors are engaged for working in hospitals, and not for other duties,” sources said.

The agency recently registered an FIR to probe the alleged irregularities in the appointment of Dr Aggarwal as OSD to Mr Jain. The agency registered the case on the basis of a complaint from Delhi government deputy secretary (vigilance) K.S. Meena. BJP leader Vijender Gupta has already alleged that Dr Aggarwal is the son-in-law of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s sister-in-law.