Rajasthan Jal Jeevan mission scam: SIT probes ₹900 Cr tender manipulation

The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has sought a lookout circular (LOC) against retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal in connection with alleged irregularities of nearly ₹900 crore in the tender process under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) , officials said on Wednesday.

ACB Deputy Inspector General Dr Rameshwar Singh said the request was forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration amid fears that Agarwal could attempt to leave the country. Agarwal was serving as Additional Chief Secretary of the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) when the alleged scam occurred.

The agency is also searching for absconding officials Jitendra Sharma and Mukesh Goyal , both former superintending engineers, and a private individual identified as Sanjeev Gupta .

On Tuesday, the ACB arrested nine persons , including senior engineers and retired officials, in the case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to question the accused and probe irregularities in the JJM tendering process.

Investigators allege that two private firms secured government tenders by submitting forged completion certificates to falsely meet eligibility criteria for major drinking water projects. The scam is suspected to involve collusion between officials and contractors to manipulate approvals and bypass technical norms.

The ACB raided Agarwal’s residence on February 17 , but he was not found. The arrested accused were produced before a court, which remanded them to three days’ police custody .

Those sent on remand include chief engineers, additional chief engineers, retired officials, and an alleged middleman, as the probe widens into what officials describe as one of the largest corruption cases linked to Rajasthan’s Jal Jeevan Mission implementation.