Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
In a major development in the alleged Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Govind Gupta confirmed the arrest of retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal, stating that the case involves large-scale irregularities in the tendering process.
Addressing the media in Jaipur, Gupta said the agency had already taken action against several individuals in connection with the case. “We had previously arrested ten accused individuals. The arrest of the four remaining individuals, who had absconded, was still pending,” he said, adding that Agarwal was taken into custody in Delhi before being formally arrested.
Explaining the core allegations, Gupta stated that the case revolves around fraudulent practices during the tendering process of the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. “Certain firms submitted forged certificates. Despite being aware of the fraudulent nature of these certificates, the officials took no action against them,” he said.
He further alleged that this inaction resulted in undue benefits being extended to specific firms. “In this manner, they extended undue favour to specific firms, involving an amount totalling approximately ₹960 crore,” Gupta said, indicating the scale of the alleged financial irregularities.
The ACB chief also highlighted concerns regarding tender conditions imposed in large-value projects. “Regarding tenders exceeding ₹50 crore within the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme, a specific condition was introduced mandating a physical inspection of the site,” he noted.
According to Gupta, this condition may have contributed to inflated project costs. “Due to the imposition of this specific condition, the bids received for tenders exceeding ₹50 crore reflected highly inflated prices; the aggregate value of these tenders amounted to approximately ₹20,000 crore,” he said.
The Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship central government programme aimed at providing piped drinking water to rural households. Allegations of corruption in its implementation have drawn significant attention, given the scale and importance of the scheme.
Gupta confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that further action may follow. “An investigation into this matter is currently underway, and it is in this context that he has been arrested today,” he said.
Officials indicated that the probe will continue to examine the role of other individuals and entities involved in the tendering process, including firms that allegedly submitted forged documents.
The arrest of Subodh Agarwal marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation, as authorities seek to uncover the full extent of irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission projects in Rajasthan.
