The probe into the alleged ₹900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam in Rajasthan has entered a crucial phase, with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) carrying out simultaneous raids at 15 locations across the country in one of its most extensive crackdowns in recent years. The coordinated operation has sent ripples through the state’s bureaucratic and contractor networks, as investigators intensify scrutiny of financial and digital evidence linked to tender allocations.
ACB teams conducted searches in Jaipur, Barmer, Sikar and Jalore in Rajasthan, while parallel action was taken in Bihar and Jharkhand at premises of firms and contractors suspected to be connected to the irregularities. Officials seized tender-related documents, electronic data, email trails and bank transaction records, which are expected to help establish the alleged money trail and identify beneficiaries.
A retired senior IAS officer, Subodh Agarwal, has come under the scanner, with searches carried out at his residence and questioning focused on contracts approved during his tenure. Sources alleged that tenders worth crores were facilitated in favour of select companies on the basis of forged experience certificates. Investigators are examining how technical eligibility norms were allegedly bypassed and at what levels the approval process may have been influenced.
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More than half a dozen individuals were detained for questioning during the operation. Those examined include KD Gupta, Niril Kumar, Sushil Sharma, DK Gaur, Mahendra Soni, Vishal Saxena, Dinesh Goyal, Shubhanshu Dixit and Arun Srivastava. Officials indicated that formal arrests could follow after analysis of digital evidence and interrogation.
The operation is being supervised by ACB Director General Govind Gupta and Additional Director General Smita Srivastava, while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case is led by DIG Dr Rameshwar Singh and SP Pushpendra Singh Rathore. Investigators are mapping the entire tender chain — from issuance of bids to technical evaluation and payment approvals — to detect procedural violations and possible collusion.
Laptops, hard drives, mobile phones, diaries and financial documents seized during the searches have been sent for forensic examination. Investigators are correlating e-tendering uploads, technical evaluation reports and bank transactions to identify links between officials, contractors and shell entities. The possibility of layering of funds through front companies for money laundering is also under examination.
Earlier in the probe, former PHED minister Mahesh Joshi and several engineers were arrested, indicating that the investigation spans both policy and execution levels. Tuesday’s raids suggest that agencies are now focusing on senior officials, contractors and key beneficiaries allegedly linked through financial transactions.
The Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship central scheme aimed at providing piped drinking water to rural households. Allegations of irregularities in tender allocation and the use of forged documents have raised concerns over transparency, oversight and the quality of project implementation. Investigators are also assessing whether the alleged violations affected on-ground execution of water supply projects.
The ACB said analysis of the seized digital and financial records is likely to clarify the money trail and bring more names under scrutiny. Further raids, arrests and possible attachment of properties have not been ruled out.
The investigation is ongoing, with officials describing it as one of the largest tender scam probes in the state. The scope of the case is expected to widen in the coming days as agencies work to identify the full network of individuals and entities allegedly involved.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
