Mahesh Joshi Remanded for 4 Days in ₹900 Crore Jal Jeevan Mission Scam; Allowed Home-Cooked Meals in Custody
ED Arrests Former Rajasthan Water Supply Minister, Court Grants Limited Custodial Remand with Health Considerations
JAIPUR, April 25, 2025 — In a major development in the ₹900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested former Rajasthan Water Supply Minister Mahesh Joshi. Following his arrest, Joshi was produced at the residence of the Special Judge late in the evening.
The ED sought a 7-day custodial remand for further interrogation. However, Joshi’s legal counsel, Advocate Deepak Chauhan, argued that Joshi had appeared voluntarily in response to an ED summons and had been fully cooperating with the investigation. The court, after hearing both sides, granted a 4-day remand, allowing Joshi to be in ED custody until April 29.
Home-Cooked Food and Medicines Permitted
Highlighting Joshi’s health requirements, his lawyer requested the court to allow him home-cooked food and prescribed medicines during the remand period. The court accepted the plea and issued directions accordingly.
Timeline of Arrest and Investigation
Joshi arrived at the ED headquarters around 1 PM on Thursday in compliance with the summons. After nearly six hours of questioning, he was formally arrested in connection with the alleged scam under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship program of the Central Government aimed at providing piped drinking water to households across India.
The scam, dating back to 2021, involves contractors from Shree Shyam Tubewell Company and M/s Shri Ganpati Tubewell Company, who allegedly used forged experience certificates to secure high-value tenders from the PHED (Public Health Engineering Department) of Rajasthan. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) initially uncovered the irregularities, prompting a deeper probe by the ED.
Among those under scrutiny along with Joshi is his close aide Sanjay Badhaya and other individuals tied to the fraudulent tendering process.
Political and Legal Implications
The arrest has sent shockwaves through Rajasthan’s political circles, given Joshi’s senior position in the previous state government. The ED’s action is part of a broader crackdown on financial misconduct in government-backed infrastructure projects.
With the case now escalating under ED investigation, further arrests and document seizures are expected. The opposition has demanded an explanation from the former administration, while the ED continues to trace the financial trail of misappropriated public funds.
