Jal Jeevan Mission scam: ED raids 25 locations across Rajasthan in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out fresh searches across Rajasthan, including at the residence of a senior IAS officer, as part of its money laundering probe into the alleged Jal Jeevan Mission scam.

A total of 25 locations in Jaipur and Dausa, including the premises of the Additional Chief Secretary in the PHE department, Subodh Agarwal, are under scrutiny. Several individuals connected to the case are also being investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Similar raids were previously conducted by the central agency in September, PTI reported.

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has accused the central agencies of targeting the opposition at the behest of the BJP-led government.

The money laundering case originated from an anti-corruption bureau (ACB) FIR in Rajasthan, which alleged that individuals, including Padamchand Jain and Mahesh Mittal, were involved in providing bribes to public servants, obtaining illegal protection, securing tenders, getting bills sanctioned, and concealing irregularities in connection with work related to various tenders from the public health and engineering department (PHED).

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The suspects were also accused of purchasing stolen goods from Haryana for use in their contracts and submitting fake work completion letters to obtain PHED contracts. The Jal Jeevan Mission, initiated by the Union government, aims to provide safe drinking water through household tap connections, and it was being implemented by the state PHED in Rajasthan.

“The suspects were also involved in the purchase of stolen goods from Haryana for using the same in their tenders/contracts and had also submitted fake work completion letters from IRCON to get PHED contracts,” the agency had alleged in a statement issued earlier.

The Jal Jeevan mission launched by the Union government aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through household tap connections and it was being implemented by the state PHED in Rajasthan.

The state will vote for its 200-member Assembly on November 25 and counting of votes will take place on December 3 along with four other states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, and Telangana.

(With PTI Inputs)