In a significant development in a major corruption case, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde on Friday granted sanction to prosecute former Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) minister Mahesh Joshi. This action is based on prima facie evidence of money laundering uncovered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Governor's Nod Paves Way for Court Trial
The official sanction, granted on Friday, authorizes the initiation of a full-fledged trial against the former minister, who served from 2018 to 2023. The prosecution will proceed before a competent court for offences under Section 3 read with Section 4 of the PMLA. The Governor's approval is a crucial legal step that removes the final barrier for the judiciary to begin proceedings against Joshi in connection with the alleged Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam.
Details of the Alleged Scam and Investigations
The case revolves around alleged massive irregularities in the implementation of the central government's flagship Jal Jeevan Mission during the previous Congress regime in Rajasthan. According to investigative sources, the scam pertains to the invitation and approval of tenders for various water supply schemes.
Investigating agencies allege that contracts under the mission were awarded based on forged and fake certificates. The initial estimates point to financial irregularities exceeding Rs 2,000 crore. However, leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena, have repeatedly claimed that the scale of the scam could be far larger, alleging irregularities surpassing a staggering ₹20,000 crore in JJM works.
Arrest, Bail, and Forthcoming Legal Battles
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the money laundering angle, had arrested Mahesh Joshi on April 24, 2025. His arrest was linked to the alleged Rs 900-crore money laundering component of the Jal Jeevan Mission case. Joshi remained in judicial custody for an extended period before the Supreme Court granted him bail on December 3, 2025. He is currently out on bail.
With the Governor's sanction now secured, separate trials will move forward in court for the cases registered by both the ED and the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The two agencies had filed independent cases against the former minister, and the legal proceedings are expected to advance simultaneously.
This development marks a pivotal moment in the high-profile case, setting the stage for a detailed judicial examination of the allegations of corruption and financial misconduct in a crucial public welfare scheme.
