A war of words broke out between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hours after CCTV footage of jailed AAP Minister Satyendar Jain surfaced on social media, in which he could be seen getting a massage in Tihar Jail.

The video of Satyendar Jain getting a full body massage in the Jail emerged on social media on Saturday morning – two days after demands for shifting of the minister from the prison were made by the BJP.

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The purported CCTV footage dated September 13 shows the minister lying on his bed and reading some papers while a man sitting next to him is seen massaging his foot.

At a press conference in which BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia and Delhi BJP chief Adesh Kumar Gupta were present, the party showed the CCTV footage of the jailed minister getting the massage by the jail officers.

Bhatia called the minister a “thug” and criticised the AAP government for not responding to the videos.

“The ‘kattar beimaan’ thug is taking a massage in jail by violating laws. He’s been jailed for 5 months now but has still not been sacked as a minister. The video shows VVIP culture. We’re asking you questions after seeing the video, Arvind Kejriwal, where are you hiding?” Bhatia said in the press conference.

He alleged that corruption is rampant in the Aam Aadmi Party.

Soon after the CCTV footage of Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain getting a massage in Tihar Jail surfaced on social media, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Jain was undergoing physiotherapy for a spinal injury.

Addressing mediapersons, Sisodia said: “Jain had sustained injury to his spine and that led to pinched nerve. He was also admitted to hospital.”

“He (Jain) underwent two surgeries. The doctor had advised physiotherapy upon discharge and those videos show him getting physiotherapy,” he said.

Sisodia further said that anyone can suffer injury and fall ill but only the BJP can make “cruel jokes” by leaking CCTV footage of an injured person’s treatment.

Sisodia said, “The Prime Minister of a country may also fall sick. Even they may require treatment.”

Lashing out at the BJP, Sisodia claimed that his colleague had been lodged in a false case and that the BJP was making fun of Jain’s illness.

“They (the BJP) are losing the MCD and Gujarat polls and that is why they are resorting to cheap theatrics. They should fight the MCD election in Delhi on issues,” he said.

Meanwhile, Satyendar Jain’s legal team on Saturday moved a special court with an application seeking contempt action against the Enforcement Directorate.

The legal team alleged that the ED has leaked the CCTV video despite the undertaking given in the court. Special Judge Vikas Dhull issued a notice to the ED and fixed the matter for November 21, 2022, for hearing.

“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.

Several BJP leaders also criticised the Delhi minister and AAP government over the issue.

In another video shared by BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on his official Twitter handle, a man is seen massaging the Delhi minister’s legs and back before proceeding to give him a full head massage.

“So, instead of Sazaa, Satyendar Jain was getting full VVIP Mazaa? Massage inside Tihar Jail? Hawalabaaz who hasn’t got bail for 5 months gets a head massage! Violation of rules in a jail run by AAP Govt,” Poonawalla tweeted along with a video.

“This is how official position abused for Vasooli and massage thanks to Kejriwal,” he added.

Taking to Twitter to react to the massage video of Jain, Delhi BJP incharge Baijayant Panda said, “This is AAP culture of giving VVIP treatment to those who are on the wrong side of law! A tainted and jailed minister of AAP, denied bail five times, gets a massage inside Tihar jail. AAPsurdity at its peak. Shame Panda!”

Another BJP leader, Amit Malviya, said, “Arvind Kejriwal has reduced Tihar to a massage parlour. His jailed minister Satyendar Jain would get a masseur, who would, in violation of all jail rules, indulge the inmate, because of his proximity to the Delhi CM. Delhi Govt manages Tihar. These corrupt people came to change Indian Politics.”

BJP MP Parvesh Verma demanded an apology from Arvind Kejriwal for comparing Satyendar Jain with Shaheed Bhagat Singh for being in jail.

The Delhi BJP also lodged a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, jailed minister Satyendar Jain and Tihar officials at Hari Nagar Police station on Saturday.

The videos surfaced on social media around 10 days after the ED accused Delhi minister Jain, who was arrested in a money laundering case, of getting special treatment inside the Tihar jail.

“Unknown persons gave massages and foot massages to Mr Jain, even beyond curfew hours. He was given special food,” the ED had said in the court. Soon after this, Superintendent of Delhi’s Tihar jail Ajit Kumar was also suspended for the alleged VIP treatment of the jailed Delhi minister.

The minister, Jain, was arrested and has been in jail since June in connection with a money laundering case, and a Delhi court also denied his bail application on Thursday.