Fresh Arrest in Rajasthan's Jal Jeevan Mission Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made a new arrest in the money laundering case tied to alleged irregularities in Rajasthan's Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. Sanjay Badaya, a suspected middleman, is now in custody. This fourth arrest follows earlier detentions linked to bribery and fraudulent activities in securing public tenders.

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday announced a new arrest in connection to the money laundering case tied to alleged irregularities within the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme in Rajasthan.

Sanjay Badaya, a suspected middleman, was apprehended on Tuesday and subsequently placed in ED custody for four days, according to a federal agency statement.

This marks the fourth arrest in the ongoing investigation.

The Jal Jeevan Mission, led by the central government, aims to ensure safe and adequate drinking water through household tap connections. In Rajasthan, the scheme is being executed by the state's Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department.

Previously, the ED had detained three individuals—Mahesh Mittal, proprietor of Shree Ganpati Tubewell Company; Padamchand Jain, proprietor of Shree Shyam Tubewell Company; and Piyush Jain—over charges of bribing public servants to secure illegal protection, tenders, and approvals for their projects.

According to the ED, Badaya had received bribes from accused firms like Shree Shyam Tubewell Company and Shree Ganpati Tubewell Company to facilitate favorable treatment and was also influencing PHED officials in their duties.

The suspects were allegedly involved in buying stolen goods from Haryana and submitting fake work completion letters to obtain PHED contracts.

The money laundering case stems from an FIR filed by Rajasthan's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), implicating individuals including Padamchand Jain, Mahesh Mittal, and Piyush Jain.

The ED has searched various properties in Jaipur and Dausa, including those of senior PHE Department officials and former state ministers, connecting assets worth Rs 11.03 crore to the case.

(With inputs from agencies.)