Delhi's Health Minister Satyendra Jain appeared before Income Tax Department officials on Tuesday to establish his bonafides and clear his name with regard to allegations that he was involved in hawala transfers.
Afterwards, Jain slammed the I-T Department's move to summon him as “a witness” and said he was the Centre's “latest victim of vendetta politics”. He said the allegations against him do not hold water as he had made all the necessary disclosures in his I-T returns and election affidavits.
“It is a conspiracy to malign my political career,” Jain told reporters in a Press conference at the Aam Aadmi Party office after his appearance, that lasted from around 12 pm to a little over 3 pm.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh termed Jain's summoning as “harassment” and emphasised the party and the Government “stand by him”. The I-T Department had last month asked Jain, a key member of the AAP Cabinet, to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case on October 4 and furnish personal financial details and ITRs for the last four years.
Jain, who worked as an architect before joining politics, arrived at I P Estate office accompanied by party leaders Singh and Ashutosh around 12 am. The I-T Department had reportedly recovered documents relating to some transactions being made by at least three Kolkata-based firms and had a link to Jain. He said the investments in the three firms were done when he was still in architecture.
He said at present, he is neither a director nor a shareholder in these companies and has no connection with them since July 2013. “They failed to answer as to why I was summoned. They are projecting me as a hawala trader. I wonder whether the media prepared the questions I was asked by the I-T Department or vice-versa. I was surprised when they asked me about persons whom I never met and spoke to in my entire life,” he said.
However, the day had its share of drama in the form of a slipper attack against Jain, Singh and Ashutosh just as they were leaving the I-T office.
Jain told the media that he was not given any notice and has only been called as a witness. “No questionnaire or document has been asked for and I have only been called as a witness, and I will answer all the questions that will be asked,” Jain said.
“It is a political matter and there is nothing big in it. Everybody knows about it, that after 2013, I have no link with them, and neither am I their shareholder or their director. Why will they call me” Jain said .Earlier, the I-T department has asked Jain to appear before it on October 4.
According to the I-T Department, four companies of Jain have illegally transferred Rs. 17 crores while he received cheques issued to these companies. He is alleged to have used that money to buy properties near unauthorised colonies. Four companies belonging to Jain are under I-T scanner are - Indo metal impax, Akinchan developers Pvt ltd, Paryas Info solution and Manglyatan projects.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed Jain was being “framed”, saying if Jain was “guilty”, he would have thrown him out.
The Chief Minister said he stands by Jain. “I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he ws guilty, we wud have thrown him out.We stand by him,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.