Former Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi Arrested in ₹900 Crore Jal Jeevan Mission Scam

In a major development in Rajasthan’s sprawling ₹900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) corruption case , the state’s Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested former Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi from his residence in Jaipur. The arrest marks another significant step in the widening investigation into alleged irregularities, bribery, and forged documents linked to government water supply tenders.

Joshi, who served as the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) minister during the previous Congress government, was taken into custody early in the morning after an ACB Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrived at his residence near Jaipur Railway Station around 5 am. Officials later produced him before a court, which remanded him to police custody till May 11 .

The case revolves around alleged corruption in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission , the Centre’s ambitious drinking water scheme aimed at providing tap water connections to rural households. According to investigators, certain firms allegedly secured lucrative contracts by submitting forged completion certificates with the help of officials inside the department.

The ACB has accused Joshi of misusing his ministerial position and accepting bribes in exchange for tenders. An FIR was registered against him and several others in late 2024. So far, 12 accused have been arrested in connection with the case, including former IAS officer Subodh Agarwal , who was arrested last month. Officials say three accused are still absconding .

This is not the first time Joshi has faced legal trouble in the matter. In April 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him in a money laundering case connected to the same alleged scam. He spent nearly seven months in jail before securing bail from the Supreme Court in December.

As he was being escorted to court on Thursday, Joshi strongly denied the allegations and accused the authorities of acting unfairly. In an emotional statement to reporters, he said the arrest on his wedding anniversary was “cruel”.

“Nothing can be more cruel than this. I am innocent. Today is my wedding anniversary, and this is how the government has paid tribute to my wife,” he said.

The former minister maintained that truth would ultimately prevail , but declined to discuss the case in detail.

The arrest has intensified political attention around the JJM scam , which has already exposed alleged deep rooted corruption within Rajasthan’s water supply department. With senior officials, contractors, and political figures now under the scanner, the investigation appears far from over.