ED conducted search operations at 26 locations under PMLA in connection with Jal Jeevan Mission Scam

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has conducted follow up search operations on 03.11.2023 at 26 locations including bank accounts in Jaipur & Dausa districts of Rajasthan under the Provisions of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in the Jal Jeevan Mission Scam.

Searches were carried out on the official and residential addresses of prominent PHED officials, including Subodh Agarwal, ACS (PHED), as well as private people.

ED initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the ACB Rajasthan against Padamchand Jain (Proprietor: M/s. Shree Shyam Tubewell Company), Mahesh Mittal (Proprietor M/s Shree Ganpati Tubewell Company) and others including PHED officials.

Another FIR was also filed by the Rajasthan Police, Bajaj Nagar Police Station, under various sections of the IPC on the basis of a complaint stating that one of the suspected firms used a forged and fabricated work experience certificate.

ED investigation revealed that the said contractors were involved in securing tenders pertaining to Jal Jeevan Mission works based on purported fake work completion certificates issued by M/s Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON) and by bribing senior PHED officials.

Several middlemen and real estate agents assisted PHED officials in syphoning off the illegally acquired money from the JJM fraud.

During the search operations, a total of Rs. 2.21 Crore including unaccounted cash of Rs. 48 lakh and Bank balance Rs.1.73 Crore, various incriminating documents including property documents, digital evidences, hard disks, mobiles etc. have been frozen/seized which reveal suspicious transactions involved in associated persons.

Total seizure in this case till date is Rs. 11.03 Crore, including gold/silver worth Rs. 6.50 Crore.

Further investigation is under progress