Delhi court issues notice to ED over 'leaked' video of Satyendar Jain getting massage in jail former Tihar official says it can't be physiotherapy
Just hours after the BJP released a video of AAP minister Satyendar Jain receiving a massage in jail, his legal team filed a contempt plea against the ED alleging that the footage was "leaked".
Delhi's Rouse Avenue court issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday after AAP minister Satyendar Jain's legal team filed a contempt of court plea saying that the CCTV footage which showed him receiving a massage inside jail was "leaked". Jain's legal team said that the ED "leaked" the CCTV footage disregarding the undertaking that it gave in court.
The court asked the probe agency how the video got leaked despite its undertaking? Special Judge Vikas Dhull issued a notice to the ED and fixed the matter for hearing on November 21.
Earlier in the day, the BJP released an old video of Satyendar Jain getting a massage in a Tihar jail cell. Tihar Jail sources told India Today that the video is old and the authorities have already taken action against concerned officers and jail staff.
The video brought back the debate over ED's earlier claims that Satyendar Jain was being given VIP treatment inside the Tihar jail with facilities like head massage, foot massage, and back massage being provided to him. The financial probe agency also submitted evidence related to the Delhi minister's "luxurious life" in jail to a court.
The 58-year-old Delhi minister was arrested on May 30 in connection with an alleged money laundering case.
As the Aam Aadmi Party claimed that the massage was part of Satyendar Jain's treatment, a former Tihar official said in every jail there is a physiotherapy ward where experts give the treatment. In the video, it is clear that co-prisoners were giving Satyendar Jain massage, Sunil Gupta, former PRO, Tihar Jail, said.
Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday moved a special court seeking contempt action against the Enforcement Directorate after the leaked video of the minister getting a massage kicked up a political storm. Satyendar Jain's team said the agency leaked the video despite giving an undertaking in court. Special judge Vikas Dhulli issued a notice to the ED and the issue will be heard on November 21. Sunil Gupta, former PRO of Tihar Jail, told ANI the video makes it clear that other inmates of the prison were giving the minister a massage. In every jail, there is a physiotherapy ward where experts provide the treatment, Gupta said amid the leaked video row.
Amid the huge row, the BJP filed a police complaint against Jain and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal against the malpractices being indulged inside Tihar. Jain's lawyer, on the other hand, questioned how the BJP got the confidential footage.
"Special court issues contempt of court notice to ED on Satyendar Jain's application for leaking Tihar CCTV footage to BJP & others. The court will hear on Monday how did BJP get the confidential footage and why it was circulated ?" Satyendar Jain's lawyer Mohd Irshad tweeted.
The purported CCTV footage of September 13 heightened the clash between the AAP and the BJP which has been going on for some time ahead of the Gujarat election and the Delhi civic body election.
Bringing the election issue, AAP claimed that the BJP "illegally" released the video calling it a VIP treatment as the BJP will be losing both the MCD and the Gujarat elections. Sharing Jain's medical report, the AAP claimed that regular physiotherapy or accupressure treatment was recommended for jain by the doctor.
"Only BJP can make cruel jokes by leaking CCTV footage of an injured person's treatment... His (Satyendar Jain's) spine was damaged, it's on record," said Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said.
Sunil Gupta, former public relation officer of Tihar Jail, said the viral video did not give the impression of any physiotherapy going on. "The video clearly showed that co-prisoners were giving a massage. A massage is differen from physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is given in special wards. In every jail, there is a physiotherapy centre where experts give the massage.
