The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought the President’s approval to prosecute former Delhi Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain, who is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged financial irregularities and money laundering, ANI reported.

The approval has been sought under Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which requires prior government sanction to prosecute judges and public servants for offenses committed during their official duties. This provision is intended to protect officials from frivolous charges while ensuring accountability.

The MHA’s request is based on evidence reportedly gathered by the ED, which suggests sufficient grounds for initiating legal proceedings against Jain.

Jain, who served as a minister in the Delhi government, has faced scrutiny since 2017 when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI accused him of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Subsequently, the ED launched a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging that Jain laundered money through a network of shell companies.

In May 2022, Jain was arrested by the ED on charges of routing illicit funds through shell companies to obscure their origins. He remained in custody for approximately 18 months before being granted bail by a Delhi court in October 2024 due to prolonged incarceration and trial delays.

The ED has continued its pursuit, urging a Delhi court in January 2025 to frame charges against Jain. The agency asserts that there is ample evidence to proceed with the trial, including allegations that Jain, with the help of associates, transferred unaccounted money through a complex web of shell companies to acquire properties and integrate illicit funds into the financial system.

(Inputs from ANI)