Amid a huge political storm over a video of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain getting a massage while imprisoned in Tihar Jail, new footage came out on Wednesday where he was seen enjoying a “sumptuous meal”.
This comes just days after Jain’s lawyer claimed in the Delhi High Court that the minister is not receiving proper food as per his religious belief from the jail authorities.
In the new CCTV footage, the AAP’s Satyendar Jain was seen sitting on a chair and having a lavish meal inside the jail. The video has surfaced a day after the Delhi High Court directed Tihar Jail authorities to provide proper food as per the minister’s religious belief and conduct medical check-ups.
Satyendar Jain Moves Court Against Tihar Jail
On Monday, the Delhi HC heard the details of the argument by Jain’s lawyer, including the leaking of the CCTV footage from Satyendar Jain’s cell despite an undertaking in place against the same.
Satyendar Jain, in his plea, claimed that he is not getting basic food items as per his religious belief such as fruits, vegetables, mixed seeds, dry fruits, and dates.
The AAP leader’s complaint further alleged that he has lost 2 kgs of weight in a week, and 28 kgs in the last six months due to improper food provided by the Tihar Jail authorities.
Citing the violation of his religious faith in jail, the Delhi minister also alleged that he has not been able to visit a Jain temple since his arrest in May. He said that he is on a religious fast, and is not getting cooked food, pulses, grains and milk products in the jail.
Meanwhile, the Tihar Jail has dismissed Jain’s allegations and said that proper food is being provided to the Delhi minister. According to Tihar Jail sources, the AAP leader has not lost 28 kgs, but “gained 8 kgs” during his stay in jail.
Speaking on the leaked massage video of the Delhi minister, the Enforcement Directorate told the Court that it has no role in leaking the footage in public domain.
BJP Corners AAP Over Satyendar Jain Amid MCD Polls
The BJP has wasted no time in attacking the AAP soon after a new video of Arvind Kejriwal’s minister went viral across social media today
The footage of the jailed Delhi minister is being widely shared on social media by BJP leaders to attack the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP amid the ongoing Delhi civic body polls campaigns.
Sharing the latest video of the AAP leader on Twitter, Delhi BJP chief Aadesh Gupta said that Jain is on a diet after getting a massage in jail.
Taking a jibe at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said that Jain is getting VIP treatment in jail as if he is in a resort or a restaurant. He further said on a video posted on Twitter that Jain is being treated as if he is not there for saza (punishment) of corruption but maza of maalish (massage).
“One more video from media! After taking maalish from rapist & calling him PHYSIO therapist, Satyendra Jain can be seen enjoying sumptuous meal! Attendants serve him food as if he is in a resort on vacation! Kejriwal ji ensured that Hawalabaaz gets VVIP maza not saza,” he tweeted.
The AAP is under fire since its jailed minister’s video went viral last week on social media, in which he was seen lying on his bed and reading some papers while a man sitting next to him massaged his feet and back. The BJP criticised the Delhi government and the AAP for providing VIP treatment to its jailed leader.
The AAP, however, has dismissed the BJP’s allegations and called it essential “medical treatment” due to a spinal injury. Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia accused the BJP of leaking the CCTV footage and said that it was “physiotherapy” administered to treat an injury. During his Gujarat rally, Kejriwal also defended Jain’s video and claimed the same.
“When Amit Shah was minister here in Gujarat, he was the one who received VIP treatment here, no such thing for Jain,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) has slammed the AAP for calling its minister’s massage a physiotherapy and demanded an apology for “degrading physiotherapy”.
“IAP strongly condemns the statement of the minister degrading physiotherapy by comparing it with massage given to another minister. Shows the level of education and knowledge they have about our noble profession,” they tweeted.
According to reports, the person administering the massage to Jain is imprisoned in Tihar Jail for being a convicted rapist under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Money Laundering Case Against Satyendar Jain
The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Jain on May 30, in a money laundering case based on a CBI FIR lodged against him in 2017, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Jain is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him.
The ED has claimed in its chargesheet that Jain received accommodation entries of 4.82 crores from the four shell companies against cash transferred to Kolkata-based entry operators through hawala routes. The probe agency stated that the acts were committed when Jain was a public servant during 2015-16.
Along with Satyendar Jain, his wife Poonam and other family members – Ajit Prasad, Sunil Kumar, Vaibhav and Ankush – were also named in the ED’s chargesheet for violating the PMLA.
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