Jaipur, May 7: Rajasthan’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested former minister Mahesh Joshi from his Jaipur residence in connection with the alleged Rs 900-crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, officials said.
The arrest was made a month after retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal was arrested.
Joshi, who was the Public Health Engineering Department minister during the former Congress government, was produced before a court where he was remanded to police custody till May 11.
Joshi was earlier arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in April 2025 in a money laundering case linked to the alleged scam. He remained in jail for around seven months before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in December.
ACB’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) reached Joshi’s residence in San Colony near Jaipur Railway Station early around 5 am and detained him in connection with the probe into the JJM scan, an ACB spokesperson said.
He was later brought to the ACB office and was placed under arrest.
While being taken to the courtroom, Joshi told reporters that the ACB did not serve him any notice and reached his residence early in the morning.
Joshi said that he was innocent and termed the ACB’s action against him “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,” Joshi said.
He said, “Truth may be challenged, but never be defeated.”
Joshi, however, declined to comment on the case in detail, adding, “All I can say is that I am innocent.”
According to the ACB, Joshi is accused of misusing his position as the then PHED minister and accepting bribes in exchange for tenders.
The ACB registered an FIR against the former minister and others in late 2024. Several accused, including officers, have been arrested in the case, while three others are absconding.
Former IAS officer Subodh Agarwal was arrested on April 10 in connection with the case. Before him, some officers and contractors were apprehended.
The ACB spokesperson said that a total of 12 accused, including the former minister, have been arrested so far.
Some firms had allegedly secured tenders by submitting forged completion certificates in connivance with officers, the spokesperson added. (PTI)
