Satyendar Jain Examined For Spine Problem At Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital

New Delhi: Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain, who has been arrested in connection with a money laundering case, was on Monday examined by doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for a spine problem, an official said. He was taken to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital on Saturday but as he wanted a second opinion, he was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital, a senior jail official said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wished his former cabinet colleague a speedy recovery.

"I pray to god for his better health. The people of Delhi are watching the arrogance and atrocities of the BJP. Even god will not forgive these oppressors. In this struggle, the people are with us and god is by our side. We are followers of Bhagat Singh and our fight against oppression, injustice and dictatorship will continue," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Jain has been lodged in Tihar Jail since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May.

Earlier last week, the Supreme Court sought the response of the ED on the bail plea of Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case being probed by the agency. A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli issued notice to the ED and granted liberty to Jain to move before the vacation bench for relief.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, said the former minister has lost 35 kg and virtually became a skeleton. He is also suffering from various ailments.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, said they are on caveat and opposing the plea.

The bench, which did not give any specific date, said Jain can approach the vacation bench of the top court for relief.

On April 6, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the bail plea of Jain in a money laundering case noting the witnesses' claim that he was the conceptualiser, initiator, and fund provider in the alleged crime.

The high court said the senior AAP leader was an influential person having the potential to tamper with evidence.

The ED had arrested Jain in the money laundering case based on a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was granted regular bail by a trial court on September 6, 2019, in the case registered by the CBI.

In 2022, the trial court had taken cognisance of the prosecution complaint (charge sheet) filed by the ED against Jain, his wife, and eight others, including the four firms, in connection with the money laundering case.