Rajasthan: Enforcement Directorate Conducts Fresh Raids As Part Of Jal Jivan Mission Money Laundering Investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated fresh search operations in poll-bound Rajasthan on Friday (3 November), focusing on the alleged Jal Jivan Mission scam, as per reports by Deccan Herald.

The investigation pertains to suspected money laundering activities, and it covers 25 locations in the state capital, Jaipur, and Dausa, including the premises of senior IAS officer Subodh Agarwal, who serves as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) in the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).

The ED is extending its probe under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to include other individuals associated with the case.

A similar series of raids had been conducted in September by the central agency.

Rajasthan is gearing up for its 200-member assembly elections scheduled for 25 November, with vote counting set to take place on 3 December, concurrently with four other states — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has raised concerns about central agencies acting on the direction of the BJP-led government at the Centre to target the opposition.

The money laundering investigation stems from an FIR (first information report) filed by the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which alleged the involvement of individuals like Padamchand Jain and Mahesh Mittal, proprietors of Shree Shyam Tubewell Company and Shree Ganpati Tubewell Company respectively.

They were accused of offering bribes to public servants to secure illegal protection, tenders, and bills in connection with their work for PHED.

Furthermore, the suspects were alleged to have engaged in the purchase of stolen goods from Haryana for use in their tenders/contracts and had submitted fraudulent work completion letters from IRCON to obtain PHED contracts.

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