Rajasthan High Court Grants Bail to Five in Jal Jeevan Mission Scandal
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Jaipur, Feb 26 (NationPress) On Thursday, the Rajasthan High Court approved bail for five individuals implicated in the purported Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) case. Among those granted bail were Piyush Jain, the son of Padmachand Jain and a firm operator, alongside Mahesh Mittal, the proprietor of a tubewell company, and his son Hemant Mittal.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had taken these individuals into custody in December 2025 in relation to this case.
During the court proceedings, the defense argued that the First Information Report (FIR) was filed in 2023 and that the investigation has been ongoing since then. They contended that the arrests occurred nearly two years later without any new evidence being presented.
The defense highlighted that such a prolonged delay in arrests raises doubts regarding the necessity for custodial detention and supports the argument for bail.
Furthermore, the counsel for the defendants informed the court that a charge sheet has been submitted, and the charges involved carry a maximum penalty of seven years.
They also argued that as the trial is expected to be lengthy, continued detention would be unwarranted.
The defense additionally pointed out that there is no direct evidence linking Piyush Jain to any financial transactions.
While the ACB referenced conversations between Padmachand Jain and Piyush Jain, the defense maintained that these discussions made no specific mention of any money exchange and noted that no physical recovery was made from him.
Previously, the prosecution recovered Rs 2.20 lakh in cash from Padmachand Jain's vehicle, describing the recovery as suspicious and pertinent to the investigation.
Other key accused in this case include Padmachand Jain, Mayalal Saini, Pradeep Kumar, Rakesh Chauhan, and Malket Singh, who are alleged to have solicited and accepted bribes.
These individuals were granted bail on November 8, 2023, in relation to the same case.
With the recent ruling by the High Court, the five defendants arrested in December 2025 have now obtained bail, while the trial concerning the Jal Jeevan Mission case will proceed following legal protocols.