Former Rajasthan PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi arrested in ₹960 crore JJM scam
Synopsis
In one of Rajasthan's biggest anti-corruption moves, the ACB arrested former PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi at 5 am on 7 May in the ₹960 crore Jal Jeevan Mission tender scam — his second arrest in the same case, after the ED had already jailed him for seven months in 2025. With 22 officials named and the probe widening, this is far from over.
Key Takeaways
ACB arrested former Rajasthan PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi on 7 May in the alleged ₹960 crore JJM scam .
An SIT led by ACB DIG Dr Rameshwar Singh detained him from his Jaipur San Colony residence at 5 am .
Two firms — Shri Ganpati Tubewell (₹859.2 crore) and Shri Shyam Tubewell (₹120.25 crore) — allegedly used fake IRCON International certificates to secure contracts.
Joshi was previously arrested by the ED in April 2025 and spent seven months in jail before the Supreme Court granted bail on 3 December 2025 .
FIRs registered against 22 officials ; 10 accused arrested so far, 3 absconding .
Former ACS Subodh Agarwal has also been arrested; further arrests are expected, according to officials.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday, 7 May arrested former Rajasthan Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Mahesh Joshi in connection with the alleged Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, involving tenders worth nearly ₹960 crore. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by ACB DIG Dr Rameshwar Singh reached Joshi's residence in Jaipur's San Colony at around 5 am and took him into custody on allegations of corruption and abuse of official position.
How the Scam Unfolded
The case centres on alleged irregularities in tenders floated under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Central government's flagship initiative to provide tap water connections to every rural household. Investigators allege that two firms — Shri Ganpati Tubewell and Shri Shyam Tubewell — secured contracts by submitting fake experience certificates purportedly issued by IRCON International.
According to the ACB, Shri Ganpati Tubewell allegedly obtained contracts worth ₹859.2 crore, while Shri Shyam Tubewell secured tenders worth ₹120.25 crore through fraudulent means. Investigators reportedly uncovered crucial digital evidence through email trail analysis, exposing an alleged nexus between contractors and government officials.
Joshi's Prior Arrest and Bail
This is not Joshi's first brush with arrest in the JJM matter. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested him in April 2025 in a related money laundering case. He spent nearly seven months in judicial custody before the Supreme Court granted him bail on 3 December 2025. The present arrest by the ACB pertains to a separate corruption case registered by the bureau in late 2024.
The ACB suspects that Joshi misused his ministerial position and accepted bribes in exchange for facilitating the fraudulent contracts, according to officials.
Widening Probe and Key Accused
The investigation has already expanded well beyond Joshi. Former Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Subodh Agarwal has also been arrested in the case. FIRs have been registered against 22 officials, including financial advisors, chief engineers, and superintendent engineers. So far, 10 accused persons have been arrested, while three others remain absconding.
The controversy first gained public attention in June 2023, when veteran leader Kirodi Lal Meena staged a sit-in protest outside the Ashok Nagar police station, demanding registration of an FIR. The issue subsequently became a significant political flashpoint during the Rajasthan Assembly elections.
What Comes Next
Following Joshi's arrest, ACB officials indicated that the bureau is expected to intensify its probe, with more arrests and confrontational questioning of key accused likely in the coming days. The latest action is being described by officials as one of the ACB's most significant moves yet in this high-profile case.
Point of View
Now by the ACB — signals that Rajasthan's new dispensation is using multiple investigative agencies to build a layered case, making bail harder to sustain. What deserves scrutiny is the systemic failure: fake IRCON certificates allegedly cleared multiple layers of government vetting in a scheme designed to deliver drinking water to the rural poor. The political origins of this case — a sit-in by Kirodi Lal Meena in June 2023 — also raise questions about whether the complaint was acted upon promptly or allowed to fester for electoral advantage. With 22 officials named and three still absconding, the real accountability test is whether mid-level bureaucrats who processed the tenders face consequences, or whether political figures alone bear the fallout.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Mahesh Joshi arrested by the ACB on 7 May?
Former Rajasthan PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on 7 May in connection with the alleged ₹960 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam, in which two firms allegedly used fake experience certificates to fraudulently secure government tenders. The ACB suspects Joshi misused his ministerial position to accept bribes in exchange for facilitating these contracts.
What is the Jal Jeevan Mission scam in Rajasthan?
The scam involves alleged irregularities in tenders issued under the Central government's Jal Jeevan Mission, a scheme to provide tap water connections to every rural household. Two firms — Shri Ganpati Tubewell and Shri Shyam Tubewell — allegedly submitted fake experience certificates issued purportedly by IRCON International to secure contracts worth a combined ₹979.45 crore, according to investigators.
Was Mahesh Joshi arrested before in this case?
Yes. The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Joshi in April 2025 in a related money laundering case. He spent nearly seven months in judicial custody before the Supreme Court granted him bail on 3 December 2025. The ACB's current arrest is under a separate corruption case registered in late 2024.
Who else has been arrested in the JJM scam?
Former Additional Chief Secretary Subodh Agarwal has also been arrested. FIRs have been registered against 22 officials, including financial advisors, chief engineers, and superintendent engineers. A total of 10 accused have been arrested so far, while three others remain absconding.
What happens next in the ACB investigation?
ACB officials indicated that the probe is expected to intensify following Joshi's arrest, with more arrests and confrontational questioning of key accused likely in the coming days. Investigators are also believed to be pursuing digital evidence, including email trails that allegedly expose a nexus between contractors and officials.
