The Tihar jail massage controversy involving Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain has taken a new turn with the Aam Aadmi Party’s  (AAP) claim that these were “physiotherapy sessions” being refuted as the “masseur” in the video is a prisoner in a rape case, according to official sources.

The man giving the AAP minister a massage in the security videos is Rinku, a prisoner charged with rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) law, according to official sources at Tihar Jail. He was arrested last year after his own daughter, a class 10 student, accused him of assaulting her.

Mr Jain is in jail as he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a case of alleged money laundering. The “VIP treatment” being given to him in jail has sparked a fierce controversy and 12 Tihar jail officials besides the Director General (prisons), Sandeep Goel were transferred after the row.

Mr Jain was seen getting massages and chatting with people sitting in his cell in violation of prison rules.

After the videos went viral, the BJP had stepped up its demand to shift the minister out of Tihar Jail, but AAP leaders defended Jain saying he was receiving physiotherapy for a spinal injury.

There was no immediate reaction from the AAP on the fresh controversy.