The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has apprehended Sanjay Badaya, the suspected mastermind and key intermediary in the Rs 900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scandal, at Delhi airport. Badaya, who had traveled to Thailand for a wedding, was detained upon his return to Delhi. He is now being transported to Jaipur for further probing.
Officials disclosed that Badaya, a resident of Jaipur’s Bani Park area, is believed to have played a pivotal role as the primary middleman in the JJM scam. Allegedly associated with former Water Supply Minister Mahesh Joshi and retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal, both already in custody, Badaya is accused of engaging in financial transactions, influencing recruitments, and manipulating tender processes.
Sanjay Badaya, who was previously arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2024 and subsequently released on bail, reportedly saw a significant rise in wealth post the JJM scam. Investigations unveiled his involvement in establishing a company with his wife, engaging in multi-crore business activities in Jaipur, and attempting to encroach upon Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) land through fraudulent means.
The ACB’s preliminary investigation suggests that if proven guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Mahesh Joshi, Subodh Agarwal, and other suspects could face up to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The arrest operation was overseen by DIG Dr. Rameshwar Singh, with ASPs Mahaveer Prasad Sharma, Bhupendra Singh, and Himanshu Kuldeep also playing key roles. The operation was carried out under the directives of DG Govind Gupta and ADG Smita Srivastava.
