Arrest of Sanjay Badaya in Rajasthan Jal Jeevan Mission Scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Sanjay Badaya for his involvement in the Jal Jeevan Mission scam in Rajasthan. This arrest marks the fourth in connection with the money laundering probe. Badaya allegedly played a middleman role, facilitating bribery to secure illegal tenders and launder funds.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) took Sanjay Badaya into custody on July 16, linking him to the ongoing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam in Rajasthan. Badaya, accused of acting as an intermediary in the scam, was arrested on Tuesday evening.

Post arrest, Badaya was subject to questioning at the ED's Jaipur office. This marks the fourth arrest in the ED's money laundering investigation related to the implementation of the Centre's Jal Jeevan Mission scheme in Rajasthan. Previously, on June 19, the ED detained the third suspect in the case.

The Jaipur Zonal ED office had earlier arrested Mahesh Mittal, a contractor, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. According to the ED, Mittal, along with others, bribed public officials to secure unlawful protections, tenders, and approvals, while also disguising irregularities in various contracts from the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED).

The ED claims that Mittal also bought stolen goods from Haryana for use in these tenders and contracts. On June 19, Mittal appeared before the Special Trial Court (PMLA) and was remanded to five-day ED custody until June 24.

The investigation sprang from an FIR filed by the Anti-Corruption Branch, Jaipur, involving multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. This FIR alleged that Mittal obtained tenders for JJM projects using falsified completion certificates issued by IRCON, facilitated through bribery. Further, the ED found that Mittal laundered proceeds from these crimes through various accounts and investments.

The ED's multiple searches have led to the seizure of Rs 11.03 crore so far. Earlier, the agency arrested Peeyush Jain and Padamchand Jain related to the same scam on February 29 and June 13, respectively. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)