Jal Board Corruption Case: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) took two prominent individuals, Jagdish Kumar Arora, and Anil Kumar Aggarwal, into custody on January 31, 2024, in connection with money laundering investigations linked to the Delhi Jal Board Corruption Case. The arrests were made under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, marking a crucial step in unraveling the alleged corruption and bribery scandal.
The investigation, initiated by the ED, was based on an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The FIR outlined scheduled offences related to corruption and bribery within the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Jagdish Kumar Arora, identified as the then Chief Engineer of DJB, allegedly awarded a contract to M/s NKG Infrastructure Ltd. with a total cost of Rs. 38,02,33,080/-, despite the company failing to meet the necessary technical eligibility criteria.
The ED’s probe uncovered that M/s NKG Infrastructure Ltd secured the bid through the submission of forged, fake, and false documents. Jagdish Kumar Arora, who was well aware of the company’s lack of technical eligibility, approved the tender for SITC (Supply, Installation, Testing, and Commissioning) of Electromagnetic flow meters. Notably, M/s NKG Infrastructure Ltd sub-contracted the awarded work to M/s Integral Screws Ltd, a proprietorship firm owned by Anil Kumar Aggarwal.
It was revealed during the investigation that upon receiving funds, Anil Kumar Aggarwal transferred approximately 3 Crores as a bribe to Jagdish Kumar Arora through both cash and bank transactions. Further scrutiny indicated that bank accounts belonging to close associates of Jagdish Kumar Arora, as well as their relatives, were utilized to facilitate the transfer of bribe amounts. Moreover, one of the close associates reportedly received bribes in cash as well.
Earlier, the ED had conducted search operations on July 24, 2023, and November 17, 2023. These operations led to the seizure of incriminating documents and evidence, strengthening the case against the accused individuals.
Jagdish Kumar Arora and Anil Kumar Aggarwal were presented before the Hon’ble Special Court on February 1, 2024. Subsequently, the Hon’ble Court granted the ED custody of the accused duo until February 5, 2024. The legal proceedings signify a crucial juncture in the pursuit of justice and accountability in the Delhi Jal Board Corruption Case, underscoring the commitment of enforcement agencies to tackle corruption at its roots.
