JalJeevanMission – Former Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi Arrested in Water Scheme Case
JalJeevanMission – The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau has intensified its probe into the alleged irregularities linked to the Jal Jeevan Mission after arresting former state minister Mahesh Joshi in connection with the multi-crore case.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested former Rajasthan Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Mahesh Joshi in the alleged ₹960-crore Jal Jeevan Mission case. Officials said the action is part of an ongoing investigation into suspected corruption and irregularities in government tender allocations under the Centre’s rural drinking water programme.
Arrest Follows Earlier Action Against Senior Officials
According to investigators, ACB officers reached Joshi’s Jaipur residence early in the morning before taking him into custody for questioning. The arrest came shortly after former PHED Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Subodh Agarwal was detained in the same matter. Officials believe several administrative decisions linked to tender approvals are now under scrutiny.
The agency had registered a formal case against Joshi in 2024, alleging that bribes were accepted during the tender allocation process while he was serving as PHED Minister in the previous Congress-led Rajasthan government headed by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Investigators claim the contracts were awarded in violation of established procedures.
Enforcement Directorate Also Conducting Separate Probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is simultaneously examining the financial aspects of the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The central agency had earlier arrested Joshi in 2025 during its money laundering investigation. He remained in judicial custody for nearly seven months before securing bail from the Supreme Court.
Authorities are now examining financial records, tender documents, and communication linked to the contracts awarded under the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. The programme was launched to improve rural water supply infrastructure and provide tap water connections to households across the country.
Raids and Arrests Intensified Earlier This Year
The investigation gathered momentum earlier this year when the ACB carried out searches at around 15 locations across Rajasthan on February 17. During those operations, 10 engineers were arrested for their alleged involvement in the case. Officials later detained Dr. Subodh Agarwal, who investigators claimed had avoided questioning for a prolonged period.
The bureau has also identified three accused individuals who are currently absconding. Investigators confirmed that they have already submitted details of the suspects’ assets before the court. Legal proceedings related to attachment of those properties are expected to move forward soon.
Allegations Linked to Fake Documents and Tender Approvals
Investigators allege that two private firms — M/s Shri Ganpati Tubewell and M/s Shri Shyam Tubewell — obtained major government contracts by using forged documents during the bidding process. The firms’ proprietors, Mahesh Mittal and Padamchand Jain, are accused of securing contracts worth nearly ₹960 crore through allegedly fake certificates said to have been issued in the name of IRCON International.
Officials suspect that the forged documents helped the firms qualify for large-scale infrastructure projects linked to the water supply scheme. The authenticity of several technical and financial records submitted during the tender process is now being examined by investigators.
Political Controversy Continued During Assembly Elections
The case first gained major public attention in June 2023 when senior BJP leader Kirori Lal Meena staged a protest outside Jaipur’s Ashok Nagar Police Station, demanding registration of an FIR. The issue later became a major political flashpoint in Rajasthan ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections.
Opposition parties repeatedly targeted the then-Gehlot government over allegations of corruption linked to the Jal Jeevan Mission, while the matter remained central to political debates throughout the election campaign. Investigations by both the ACB and ED are still ongoing.