Rajasthan’s political landscape saw significant developments as the Anti-Corruption Bureau detained former PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi over the alleged Jal Jeevan Mission scam involving tenders worth almost Rs 960 crore. The arrest, made by a Special Investigation Team, is linked to irregularities in contracts under the Central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission, aimed at providing tap water connections to households. Joshi is accused of misusing his ministerial position to secure contracts through fraudulent means.
The investigation revealed that two firms, Shri Ganpati Tubewell and Shri Shyam Tubewell, obtained contracts using fake experience certificates allegedly issued by IRCON International. Shri Ganpati Tubewell secured contracts worth Rs 859.2 crore, while Shri Shyam Tubewell obtained tenders worth Rs 120.25 crore through deceptive practices. Authorities suspect that Joshi accepted bribes in exchange for facilitating these contracts.
This arrest follows Joshi’s previous detention in 2025 in a related money laundering case, for which he spent seven months in jail before being granted bail. The probe has expanded to include several senior officials, with former ACS Subodh Agarwal also arrested. The investigation, initiated in 2024, has led to the arrest of 10 individuals, while three others remain at large.
