Former IAS Officer Subodh Agarwal Arrested In Jal Jeevan Mission Scam Case
Ex-IAS officer arrested in Rs 900 crore scam.
Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Subodh Agarwal has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with an alleged ₹900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, marking a major development in one of the most high-profile procurement fraud investigations linked to the central water supply scheme.
According to officials cited in the ongoing probe, the arrest follows weeks of surveillance, raids, and a nationwide search operation after Agarwal was declared absconding. He was reportedly taken into custody in New Delhi and later shifted to Jaipur for formal legal proceedings.
Investigators allege that irregularities took place in the tendering process for JJM projects in Rajasthan, where contracts were awarded based on allegedly forged documents and manipulated compliance certificates. The case also involves accusations that private firms secured government contracts by submitting fake work completion records and other fraudulent documentation.
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Agarwal, who served as Additional Chief Secretary in the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) during the period under investigation, has been named as one of the key accused. The ACB claims that systemic changes in tender conditions during his tenure enabled cartelisation and inflated project costs, although the accused has previously denied wrongdoing and challenged the allegations in court.
Officials further stated that the investigation uncovered a wider nexus involving contractors, engineers, and departmental officials, with contracts worth hundreds of crores allegedly being manipulated through coordinated efforts. Multiple arrests have already been made in the case, while several others remain under investigation or are still absconding.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship central government programme aimed at providing tap water to rural households, has been under scrutiny in Rajasthan following multiple FIRs and enforcement actions. Authorities say the probe is ongoing and further arrests or asset attachments may follow as evidence is examined across states.
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