In the ongoing Jal Jeevan Mission scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized movable and immovable assets worth ₹47.80 crore in Jaipur. The crackdown, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targets multiple individuals, including contractors and political figures, accused of large-scale corruption and fraudulent procurement of government contracts.
Seized Properties Spread Across Jaipur; Belong to Key Accused and Their Families
The assets confiscated by the ED include agricultural land, residential flats, houses, and other properties in prime locations of Jaipur. The seizure is part of a broader probe involving Padmachand Jain (Shri Shyam Tubewell Company), Mahesh Mittal (Shri Ganpati Tubewell Company), Sanjay Badaya, Vishal Saxena, and Mahesh Joshi, a former Rajasthan minister. Properties held in the names of family members and related entities have also been brought under scrutiny, as investigators trace the money trail linked to fake contracts and laundering.
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Scam Involved Fake Experience Certificates, Collusion with Officials
The ED’s investigation stems from an FIR originally filed by the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The accused allegedly forged work experience certificates to fraudulently secure contracts under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship scheme intended to provide tap water to rural households. Investigations revealed a nexus between private contractors and corrupt public officials, leading to the illegal award of contracts worth crores.
Subsequent FIRs were also registered by Bajaj Nagar Police Station, the CBI, and Jaipur ACB, further exposing the scale of the scam. The ED has so far arrested key figures, including Padmachand Jain, Mahesh Mittal, Sanjay Badaya, and Piyush Jain, while former PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi was taken into custody on April 24, 2025.
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ED Intensifies Crackdown Amid Nationwide Focus on Scheme Misuse
The ED’s action comes amid growing scrutiny over the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes across states. The agency has intensified its crackdown on laundering networks that exploit developmental missions for personal gain. The probe is ongoing, and further arrests or seizures may follow as investigators examine financial transactions, property records, and links with bureaucrats.
This case is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in public welfare schemes and the urgent need for transparent procurement mechanisms and rigorous audit frameworks in public infrastructure projects.
