Jaipur: A fresh twist has emerged in the alleged ₹900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam in Rajasthan, with a former Additional Chief Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department moving the Rajasthan High Court seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him. The court is expected to hear the matter next week.
In his petition, the officer has argued that nearly 95 per cent of the work orders awarded to the accused firms were approved by a Finance Committee chaired by another senior official. He has claimed that less than 10 per cent of the tenders were cleared during his tenure and that no payments were released to the firms while he was in office, thereby causing no financial loss to the government exchequer.
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The plea further states that after receiving inputs about irregularities, a high-level committee was constituted. Based on its findings, the tenders in question were cancelled, both firms were blacklisted and legal action was initiated against a departmental officer. The petition also alleges that the investigating agency relied on statements of the same officer against whom an FIR had already been lodged, indicating possible bias in the probe.
The development comes in the wake of a major Anti-Corruption Bureau crackdown in which simultaneous raids were conducted at 15 locations across multiple states and nine accused were arrested. Those taken into custody include two chief engineers, contractors and their associates.
According to investigators, two private firms allegedly secured high-value tenders by submitting forged completion certificates in the name of a public sector undertaking. These documents reportedly showed eligibility for projects worth around ₹960 crore, leading to large-scale financial irregularities.
The probe has also flagged the introduction of a “site visit certificate” requirement for projects above ₹50 crore, which is said to be in violation of established norms. Investigators suspect that bidder identities were disclosed in advance and “tender pooling” was facilitated, resulting in unusually high tender premiums that were subsequently approved.
Searches were carried out in Jaipur, Barmer, Sikar, Jalore, Udaipur, Karauli and Delhi, among other locations. The ACB also examined documents related to tender approvals at the residence of the officer who has now approached the High Court.
The case has triggered significant administrative and political ripples in the state. While the investigating agency maintains that it has unearthed a large financial scam involving forged documents and manipulated tender processes, the petitioner contends that no payments were made during his tenure and hence no loss occurred. The High Court’s decision will determine whether the FIR stands or is set aside.
Meanwhile, the ACB continues to analyse financial transactions, tender records and documentary evidence as part of what is being described as one of the biggest alleged corruption cases linked to the Jal Jeevan Mission in the state, with potential long-term legal and administrative implications.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
