Subodh Agarwal, a former IAS officer wanted in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam in Rajasthan, was apprehended by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday. Officials reported that Agarwal was brought from Delhi to Jaipur, where he underwent questioning at the ACB headquarters under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police Om Prakash Meena.
An arrest warrant for Agarwal had been previously issued as he was accused in the ongoing JJM case. In conjunction with this investigation, nine officials of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) had already been detained.
Investigation Progress
Govind Gupta, Director General of the ACB, confirmed that the investigation, which commenced in 2024, has led to the detention of a total of 11 individuals, while three others remain at large. The arrest of Agarwal has been described as a significant advancement in the inquiry.
The ACB’s investigation revealed significant irregularities in the tendering process for the JJM. It was discovered that multiple firms, including Ganpati Tubewell and Shyam Tubewell, purportedly received contracts through the submission of forged certificates. Despite being aware of these fraudulent activities, relevant officials did not take appropriate action.
This negligence resulted in tenders worth nearly Rs 900 crore being allocated to specific firms improperly. Furthermore, inspections mandated for projects exceeding Rs 50 crore were allegedly not conducted, highlighting the misuse of official roles.
Crackdown and Raids
On February 17, the ACB executed a substantial operation in relation to the case, conducting searches at 15 distinct locations throughout Rajasthan, including cities such as Jaipur, Barmer, Jalore, and Sikar, as well as in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Delhi. During this operation, instances of forged billing, financial misconduct, and severe violations of procedure in the tendering process were uncovered.
On the same day of the raids, a search was conducted at Agarwal’s residence, leading to the arrest of nine PHED officials linked to the investigation. Following these events, a Look-Out Circular (LOC) was issued against Agarwal on February 18 due to his continued evasion of authorities until his recent apprehension.
Background of the Case
Agarwal, a retired IAS officer, was serving as an Additional Chief Secretary in the PHED at the time the alleged scam took place, which occurred during the previous Congress administration in Rajasthan. According to the ACB, Agarwal and other colluding parties reportedly submitted false completion certificates valued at nearly Rs 960 crore to secure contracts associated with the Jal Jeevan Mission. This fraudulent activity is thought to have resulted in the embezzlement of substantial funds involving contractors, senior engineers, and various public officials.
In response to the escalating investigation, the ACB arrested nine individuals in February 2026, including senior engineers and retired officials implicated in the alleged scheme. The Jal Jeevan Mission, initiated by the Central government in 2019, aims to provide piped drinking water to every rural household by establishing functional tap connections.
Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!
