‘Good news … thank you … please get it done’: Chats at centre of ACB probe into STP tender ‘scam’

Messages expressing gratitude and frustration surfaced in the midst of the investigation into the alleged multi-crore sewage treatment plant (STP) tender scam, according to the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). Satyendar Jain, the former Delhi minister and AAP leader, is accused of involvement in the scheme, along with his associate Udit Prakash Rai, who was once the CEO of Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Four others were also arrested in connection with the case on August 18.

The ACB's investigation centers around messages exchanged between accused Raj Kumar Kurra and Ankit Srivastava, Kurra's contractual consultant. Kurra allegedly expressed satisfaction with the corrigendum issued by DJB on February 12, 2022, which altered the scope of work to benefit his firm, Euroteck Environment Private Limited.

Kurra's messages to Srivastava and co-accused Nagendra Yadav, proprietor of AN Enterprises, contained accusations and dissatisfaction, alleging that the corrigendum provided an undue advantage to Euroteck.

The ACB claims that several other corrigendums were manipulated to favor Euroteck, restricting competition and benefiting the company awarded the contract. It also alleges that Jain's decisions were made arbitrarily, without sufficient technical justification. The investigation focuses on a specific contract to upgrade Delhi's STPs in 2022 during Jain's tenure as Water Minister.