Jaipur, May 7: A significant political development occurred in Rajasthan on Thursday morning when the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested former minister Mahesh Joshi in connection with an alleged ₹960 crore scam related to the Water Life Mission.
According to officials, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by ACB DIG Rameshwar Singh arrived at Joshi’s residence in the San Colony area of Jaipur around 5 AM and detained him based on allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
This operation is considered one of the largest actions taken by the ACB to date. The case involves alleged irregularities in tenders issued under the Water Life Mission, a central government initiative aimed at providing tap water to every household.
Investigators claim that two companies, Shri Ganpati Tubewell and Shri Shyam Tubewell, obtained tenders by submitting fake experience certificates, reportedly issued in the name of Ircon International.
The investigation revealed that Shri Ganpati Tubewell was awarded contracts worth ₹859.20 crore, while Shri Shyam Tubewell allegedly secured tenders worth ₹120.25 crore through fraudulent means.
The ACB suspects that Mahesh Joshi misused his ministerial position to facilitate these contracts in exchange for bribes. Previously, Joshi was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in April 2025 for a money laundering case, spending nearly seven months in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in December 2025. This latest arrest stems from a separate corruption case registered by the ACB.
Several senior officials have also come under scrutiny in this investigation. Former Additional Chief Secretary Subodh Agarwal has already been arrested, and FIRs have been filed against 22 officials, including financial advisors, chief engineers, and supervising engineers.
Investigators have uncovered crucial digital evidence through email trails, revealing alleged collusion between contractors and officials.
This case first gained political attention in June 2023 when senior leader Kirori Lal Meena staged a protest outside the Ashok Nagar police station, demanding the registration of an FIR. The issue escalated into a major political controversy during the Rajasthan Assembly elections.
The ACB filed an FIR against the former minister at the end of 2024. Since the investigation began in 2024, ten accused individuals have been arrested, while three remain at large.
Officials indicate that following Mahesh Joshi’s arrest, the ACB may intensify its investigation, with further arrests and confrontations with key accused expected in the coming days.
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