'Saga of AAP's lies continues': Smriti Irani hits out at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for 'ducking' her questions post HC jolt

New Delhi: Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday (June 5, 2022) hit out at Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal for "ducking" her questions regarding Minister Satyendar Jain, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. In a series of tweets, the Union Minister, while citing the order of the High Court that stayed a special court`s order allowing Jain to have counsel during the interrogation, took a jibe at the Delhi Chief Minister and added one more question to the list of 10 questions which she had put forward to Kejriwal in a press conference earlier this month.

Smriti Irani called out AAP leaders, who are defending the Delhi Minister, a "saga of lies".

"Saga of AAP`s lies continues! Delhi HC has accepted ED`s argument that Satyendra Jain who is accused of money laundering under PMLA must be denied his lawyer`s presence during custodial interrogation. As Kejriwal Ji continues to duck 10 pointed questions, here`s 1 more question," she tweeted.

"Would Kejriwal Ji answer if it is true that ED has started its investigation under PML Act as a sequel to 24 August 2017 CBI FIR & 03.12.18 charge sheet filed by the CBI which has found evidence of disproportionate assets against Satyendra Jain under Prevention of Corruption Act?" the Minister added in her tweet.

Would Kejriwal Ji answer if it is true that ED has started its investigation under PML Act as a sequel to 24.08.17 CBI FIR & 03.12.18 charge sheet filed by the CBI which has found evidence of disproportionate assets against Satyendra Jain under Prevention of Corruption Act? — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 5, 2022

Taking it to Twitter, Irani further sought explanation from the Delhi CM, if ED has arrested Satyendra Jain on the basis of the IO`s position that the Delhi Minister is guilty of the offence of money laundering which has been approved by the Special court while remanding him?

"Response is awaited, Kejriwal Ji!" she tweeted.

Earlier this week, Irani in a press conference had posed a set of 10 questions to the AAP supremo hitting out over the arrest of Satyendar Jain after the latter was remanded to the ED custody till June 9.

While addressing a press conference in Delhi, Irani said, "Arvind Kejriwal presumed the role of a judge and gave him a clean chit. I want to ask Arvind Kejriwal a few questions. My first question is, can Kejriwal deny that Satyendar Jain laundered Rs 16.39 crore using 56 shell companies with the support of hawala operators in Kolkata from 2010-11 to 2015-16?"

Irani questioned Kejriwal that if Jain declared that money laundered representing the undisclosed income under the income disclosure scheme 2016 in the name of his close associates Ankush Jain, and Vaibhav Jain is a self-declaration by him in 2016.

"Is it true that the principal commissioner of income tax has held that the unaccounted income of Rs 16.39 crore was not of Ankush Jain and Vaibhav Jain, but that Satyendar Jain was the real owner of the income," she asked Delhi CM.

Citing an order of the Delhi High Court delivered on August 21, 2019, Irani said that the Court bench has confirmed the very findings of the principal commissioner of income tax that "Satyendar Jain indeed himself is the real owner of the money laundered".

"Is it true that Satyendar Jain is the beneficial owner of the shell companies namely Prayas InfoSolutions Pvt Ltd, Indo Metal Impex Pvt Ltd, and Akinchan Developers Pvt Ltd and he controls them through shareholding along with his wife?" she asked.

"Is it true that through this black money, Satyendar Jain took the ownership of 200 bighas of land in many areas of Delhi to his advantage?" Irani added.

She further asked if providing a huge return on the investment on the land in the vicinity of unauthorised colonies by Satyendar Jain was the "real reason why the Aam Aadmi Party regularised the unauthorised colonies".

"Does Arvind Kejriwal knowingly now give patronage to those who have deceived the people? How long will `Desh ka gaddar` continue to receive your support?" asked Irani.

The attack by the Union Minister came days after Kejriwal came out in support of Jain and defended the arrested Minister, claiming that the case registered against him is fake and politically motivated.

"Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has been arrested by Enforcement Directorate. I have personally read all the papers and case filed against Satyendra Jain by ED and it is completely false. We have a very strict and honest government. We are hard-core patriots; we can get beheaded but can never betray the country. His arrest is politically motivated," Kejriwal said while addressing a press conference on Tuesday.

(With agency inputs)