In a significant development in the alleged Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) corruption case, a Jaipur court on Friday sent all five arrested accused to judicial custody. This move came after the completion of their police remand period granted to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Who Are The Accused Sent to Custody?
The individuals now in judicial custody include Mahesh Kumar Mittal, who is the proprietor of Ganpati Tubewell, and his son Hemant Mittal. Also remanded are Umesh Kumar Sharma, the manager and liaison officer of Shyam Tubewell; Gopal Kumawat, the former accounts officer of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED); and Piyush Jain, son of Padam Chand Jain, the proprietor of Shyam Tubewell.
SIT Intensifies Probe, Scrutinizes Key Documents
Parallel to the legal proceedings, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the ACB is deepening its investigation. The team is meticulously examining a trove of documents seized from the PHED office located at Jal Bhavan on Thursday.
According to sources, the scrutiny focuses on several critical areas to build a robust case. Investigators are poring over:
- Tender-related files and approval notes
- Sanction documents and workbooks
- Detailed payment records and bills
- Other documents connected to JJM project execution
Focus on Tender Process and Alleged Collusion
The probe is specifically zeroing in on the processes that led to the award of tenders for JJM works. Investigators are examining the role of department officials in clearing payments and verifying whether established norms were bypassed to unduly favour certain contractors.
A core aspect of the investigation is to establish evidence of alleged collusion between contractors and PHED officials. The case itself revolves around accusations of widespread corruption in JJM projects, including charges of bribery, the use of forged documents, and the submission of inflated bills to siphon off government funds.
The ACB's investigation remains active and ongoing. Sources indicate that the agency has not ruled out further questioning of officials. In fact, preparations are reportedly underway to interrogate more suspects, including a former senior official of the PHED. The SIT is preparing detailed questionnaires for this purpose, and formal notices are expected to be issued to these individuals in connection with the case.
