Retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal arrested in Rajasthan Jal Jeevan mission scam

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal from New Delhi in connection with a multi-crore corruption case linked to the Jal Jeevan Mission in Rajasthan, officials said.

A Jaipur court had earlier issued an arrest warrant against Agarwal, who had allegedly been evading arrest for an extended period. Confirming the development, ACB Director General of Police Govind Gupta said that a total of 10 accused have been arrested so far in the case, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining individuals.

Providing details, Gupta said the investigation has revealed that private firms Ganpati Tubewells and Shyam Tubewells allegedly secured government tenders by submitting forged certificates during the bidding process. Despite being aware of the irregularities, some officials reportedly failed to take appropriate action, suggesting possible collusion.

“The tender process included a special condition that effectively disclosed the identity of the firms, which was irregular and raised serious concerns,” Gupta noted.

The ACB had earlier issued a lookout notice against Agarwal, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary in the Public Health and Engineering Department when the alleged scam took place. Investigators said he had twice managed to evade arrest when teams raided suspected hideouts.

Authorities have obtained standing warrants against the remaining accused, allowing for the attachment of their properties and auction of vehicles if they fail to surrender.

The case relates to alleged manipulation of tenders under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship programme aimed at providing tap water to rural households through forged documentation and collusion between contractors and officials. Last month, the ACB arrested nine individuals, including senior engineers, retired officials, and contractors, as part of its ongoing probe.

Agarwal is expected to be produced before a court soon as the investigation continues.