Satyendar Jain moves court against airing his jail CCTV footage
What's the story
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain on Wednesday moved a special court against the airing of his CCTV footage from Tihar Jail. Reportedly, he sought directions from the court to restrict the media from airing or broadcasting any CCTV footage related to him. He made the application as a second video of him allegedly enjoying a sumptuous meal inside the jail went viral.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The videos of Jain, showing him purportedly enjoying unusual privileges inside the jail, have surfaced just days ahead of the Gujarat Assembly and Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls scheduled for the first quarter of December. Earlier, after Jain's video showing him receiving a massage inside the jail went viral, the AAP claimed it was part of the physiotherapy recommended to him by a doctor.
Restriction
Court seeks report from Tihar Jail authorities
Jain's application seeking directions for the media is likely to be heard on Thursday by special judge Vikas Dhull. Meanwhile. the court sought a report from jail authorities regarding the diet of the Delhi minister as he complained about food and medical facilities not being provided to him. It also granted them time until Monday to submit a detailed report on Jain's medical reports.
Details
Two videos showing Jain enjoying unusual facilities
On Saturday, a video purportedly showing Jain receiving a massage from an alleged rape-accused inmate went viral. Following this, the BJP filed a police complaint against Jain and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Jain, accusing them of violating the jail manual and forcing jail officials to provide VIP facilities, respectively. On Wednesday, another video, also sourced from jail, showed Jain getting an elaborate meal.
Twitter Post
Everything going on as per jail manual: AAP's Manish Sisodia
Jail Manual के हिसाब से आरोपी को जो Treatment दी जा रही है, उसे मनोहर कहानियां बना कर पेश कर रही है BJP
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 23, 2022
दिल्ली की जनता 'कूड़ा-कूड़ा' चिल्ला रही है।
BJP 'Video-Video' चला रही है।
BJP कहती है कि हम 'कूड़े' पर बात नहीं करेंगे।
- Dy CM @msisodia #MCDMeinBhiKejriwal pic.twitter.com/9wFN5NRacn
Inside jail
Video showing Jain having elaborate meal has September, October recordings
The viral video of Jain enjoying elaborate meals inside the Tihar Jail has clips recorded by a CCTV camera on September 13 and October 1 and 3. According to the stamp on the footage, it was recorded in "W-5 Cell-1 A Block." In the short video, Jain can be seen having different varieties of food spread over a bed in front of him.
Criticism
BJP corners AAP over the video
After the video surfaced, the BJP criticized Delhi's ruling AAP and Jain as the latter earlier complained he lost 28kg weight due to "improper meals" inside the jail. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted the video of Jain's meals and alleged "the jailed minister" was "getting food of his choice." "Jain has...gained 8kg while in jail, contrary to his lawyer's claims," he wrote.
Twitter Post
Video showing Jain enjoying meals in jail
Another Arvind Kejriwal lie nailed.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) November 23, 2022
Latest CCTV footage shows AAP’s jailed minister Satyendra Jain getting food of his choice, multi course meal, including fruits and dry fruits…
Jain has infact gained 8kg while in jail, contrary to his lawyer’s claims of him having lost 28kg! pic.twitter.com/tSjW67XfUe
Background
Jain faces jail in a 5-year-old case
A minister in the Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi, Jain was arrested on May 30, 2022, under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case has its roots in August 2017, when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against him and others over disproportionate assets. Based on the CBI's FIR, the Enforcement Directorate initiated a money laundering probe.