Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Kumar Jain, former Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO Udit Prakash Rai, and four others were arrested on Tuesday by the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in connection with an alleged corruption and tender-manipulation case involving the augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the national capital. The arrests triggered sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress, both of whom accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP of having 'deceived' the people of Delhi.

What the STP Case Alleges

According to the ACB, the alleged scam centres on a tender floated in 2021 for the construction and upgradation of sewage treatment plants. Investigators allege that conditions in the tender were deliberately framed to benefit a specific company, Euroteck, and that the contract was awarded in exchange for bribes worth crores of rupees. Satyendar Jain, Udit Prakash Rai, and the other accused allegedly played key roles in the manipulation, according to the ACB.

What the BJP Said

BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva said: 'The STP scam was a very big one. In the name of cleaning the Yamuna, Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party deceived the people of Delhi.' He further alleged that tender conditions were 'manipulated' to favour Euroteck 'in exchange for a bribe worth crores of rupees by Satyendar Jain, then CEO Udit Prakash and others.' Sachdeva added that 'Arvind Kejriwal and AAP all received their shares,' and warned that 'as the investigation continues, I don't think even Arvind Kejriwal will be able to escape.'

Congress Raises DJB Governance Failures

Rachnatmak Congress Chairperson Sandeep Dikshit claimed the party had prior information about the irregularities in the DJB tenders. He pointed to two structural failures: the non-implementation of interceptors needed for Yamuna cleaning, and the neglect of sewer-line maintenance over the past 8 to 10 years. 'The DJB does not have money as water connections have been made free,' he said, adding that while subsidised water for the poor is understandable, it should not compromise the organisation's financial health. Dikshit called for punishment of AAP leaders 'not just for irregularities but also for creating hindrance to development in the capital.'

Pappu Yadav Flags 'Politicisation'

Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, took a different line, targeting the BJP for what he termed the repeated arrest of the same individuals. 'Satyendar Jain has been jailed before as well. Repeatedly following the same process of arresting someone could be termed as politicisation,' he said. He also questioned why the Enforcement Directorate (ED) 'always targets Opposition leaders,' while asserting that the BJP itself is 'deeply immersed in corruption.' He stopped short of defending Jain directly, saying he was 'not going into whether Satyendar Jain is right or wrong.'

Context and What Comes Next

This is not the first time Satyendar Jain has faced arrest — he was previously held in a money-laundering case by the ED and spent an extended period in custody before being granted bail. The fresh ACB action comes under the BJP-led Delhi government that swept to power earlier this year, replacing AAP after more than a decade in office. Critics argue the timing and the agency used — the Delhi government's own ACB — raises questions about institutional independence. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests or disclosures are possible as the money trail is examined.