Former Delhi minister Satyanarayan Jain's arrest sparks accusations of authoritarianism

The detention of former Delhi minister Satyanarayan Jain on August 18 has intensified accusations that the central government is veering towards authoritarian rule. AAP officials allege that the BJP is exploiting agencies such as the ED, ACB and CBI to weaponise the legal system.

Kejriwal, addressing his followers on X, reminded the public of Jain’s previous imprisonment under a case that was later proved false. He warned that the BJP’s pattern of filing bogus cases would soon be laid bare.

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia added that the timing of the arrest—just weeks before the Punjab elections—suggests a deliberate strategy to destabilise the opposition. He also cited the party’s earlier experience of keeping Jain behind bars for 30 months on a fabricated charge.

Atishi, a former chief minister of Delhi, described the episode as “political vengeance” and emphasized that while state power can create temporary fear, it cannot permanently silence the truth.