JAIPUR – The layers of the multi-thousand-crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam in Rajasthan’s Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) are peeling away at a rapid pace.
Following the high-profile arrest of former Minister Mahesh Joshi, the corridors of power in Jaipur are buzzing with one critical question: Who is next? Specifically, will the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) finally close in on the man being touted as the “real mastermind” of the entire operation?
The ‘Trident of Corruption’ and the Extortion Network
According to sources and statements from government witnesses, a sophisticated syndicate operated within the PHED during Mahesh Joshi’s tenure, turning a developmental mission into a massive extortion hub. The structural hierarchy of this alleged syndicate has now come to light:
- Sanjay Agarwal (Then XEn, Current SE): Described as the ‘Chanakya’ of the department, Agarwal is accused of being the primary architect behind the manipulation of JJM tenders worth ₹20,000 crore. Allegations suggest he drafted the entire blueprint for managing tenders and extorting crores from contractors under the guise of “investigations.”
- Dinesh Goyal (Former CE): Arrested by the ACB on February 17, Goyal allegedly worked in tandem with Sanjay Agarwal to “manage” large-scale projects.
- Sanjay Badaya: A close confidant of the former minister, Badaya allegedly served as the primary channel for fund collection. The names of his relatives—Kishan Gupta, Tapan Gupta, and Naman Khandelwal—have also surfaced as key players in handling the illicit flow of money.
Star Witness Blows the Whistle
The investigation gained significant momentum following the testimony of Vishal Saxena, who turned government witness. In his detailed disclosure to the ACB, Saxena explicitly named Sanjay Agarwal as the “main player” in the tender management scheme.
The testimony also cast a shadow over then-ACS Subodh Agarwal, raising serious questions regarding the awarding of contracts to suspicious firms and the alleged negligence in verifying forged IRCON certificates.
Is Sanjay Agarwal Being Protected?
Despite the arrest of former Minister Mahesh Joshi, former ACS Subodh Agarwal, and nearly a dozen others, Sanjay Agarwal remains at large. While his partner-in-crime, Dinesh Goyal, is already in custody, Agarwal—the man alleged to have orchestrated the ₹20,000 crore tender manipulation—has not even been summoned for questioning.
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This discrepancy has sparked intense speculation: Does Sanjay Agarwal enjoy the protection of influential figures? Is the ACB waiting for more concrete evidence, or is there an attempt to divert the heat of the investigation away from him?
The Extortion Racket: Beyond Tenders
The corruption within the PHED wasn’t limited to project contracts. The syndicate allegedly operated a “Transfer-Posting” industry, where engineers were forced to pay hefty sums for favorable placements. Furthermore, contractors were reportedly threatened with blacklisting to coerce them into “settlements” involving astronomical kickbacks.
As the ACB deepens its probe, all eyes are now on the relatives of Sanjay Badaya—Kishan, Tapan, and Naman—who are suspected of acting as the “financial backbone” by laundering the proceeds of this massive scam. The question remains: how long can the “Mastermind” stay out of the ACB’s net?
