9 officers arrested in Jal Jeevan Mission scam; Rajasthan MoS Home vows strict action

In a major crackdown on alleged corruption in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the Rajasthan Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested nine government officers following simultaneous raids at multiple locations across Rajasthan and New Delhi.

Special ACB teams conducted coordinated searches in Jaipur, Barmer, Udaipur, Karauli and the national capital, leading to the arrest of the accused officials suspected of involvement in large-scale irregularities in the implementation of the Centre-backed drinking water scheme.

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According to Bureau sources, two tube well companies allegedly forged certificates in the name of another limited company to fraudulently secure tenders worth around ₹960 crore. The accused officers are also suspected of manipulating and altering tender terms and conditions to favour certain firms in works valued at approximately ₹50 crore.

Officials said the arrested officers are being interrogated and investigators are gathering further documentary and technical evidence to establish the full extent of the alleged scam and identify other possible beneficiaries.

Reacting to the development, Rajasthan Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedam reiterated the government’s resolve to take strict action against all those involved.

“The Jal Jeevan Mission was conceived as an ambitious programme with Central support to provide drinking water to lakhs of people in the arid regions of Rajasthan. However, during the previous regime, an unholy nexus between some politicians and officials derailed the mission and led to misuse of funds,” Bedam told reporters.

He alleged that funds allocated for the scheme were siphoned off and assured that the state government is committed to ensuring accountability.

“Not a single culprit involved in corruption in the mission will be spared. Punishing the guilty is our government’s priority,” he said.

The Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship programme aimed at providing functional household tap connections, particularly in water-scarce regions like Rajasthan. The latest arrests mark one of the biggest actions so far by the ACB in connection with alleged irregularities in the scheme in the state.

Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests and disclosures are expected as the probe progresses.