ED attaches ₹7.44 crore assets linked to AAP leader Satyendar Jain in PMLA case over alleged benami and disproportionate assets. [Photo: PTI]
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth ₹7.44 crore linked to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain. The move comes under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED said the assets belonged to companies “owned and controlled” by Jain. The agency issued a provisional order on September 15 to attach the immovable properties, according to a statement reported by PTI.
The investigation involves alleged possession of benami assets and holding of disproportionate assets. The probe targets Satyendar Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, and others.
The ED has accused Jain of accumulating disproportionate wealth between 2015 and 2017. During this period, he served as a minister in the Delhi government from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017. In 2022, the ED had already attached assets worth ₹4.81 crore linked to Jain.
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Last month, Satyendar Jain received court relief in a separate corruption case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had submitted a closure report in the case. The matter involved awarding a tender to a private company during Jain’s tenure as Public Works Department Minister.
The latest asset attachment highlights the central agencies’ continued scrutiny of political leaders. ED officials said that such measures are necessary to prevent misuse of public office for personal gain.
With multiple state elections approaching, this attachment comes at a delicate moment for the AAP. Analysts suggest the PMLA probe and asset attachment could affect Jain's political standing. 'The move sends a strong signal about accountability', said one political observer.
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The AAP has previously defended Jain, calling the allegations politically motivated. Party leaders have reiterated that the CBI had closed the graft case, showing no wrongdoing.
The PMLA case is ongoing. Satyendar Jain and his legal team are expected to challenge the ED’s attachment in court. Officials say the investigation will continue until all assets and transactions are thoroughly examined.
The ED has also warned that further action could follow if additional irregularities are found in Jain’s financial dealings.
The ₹7.44 crore attachment adds to the earlier ₹4.81 crore seized in 2022. These moves demonstrate the central agencies’ strict stance on alleged corruption and money laundering by politicians.
It calls into question how quickly China will be able to threaten American maritime control. Political observers point out that these high-profile incidents have an impact on voter sentiment, party tactics, and public perception.
Opponents see the attachments as a test of accountability in governance, while Jain supporters contend they are a result of political pressure.
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