Supreme Court Grants Bail to Former Rajasthan Minister in JJM Scam Case

The Supreme Court has granted bail to Mahesh Joshi, a former Rajasthan minister, who was arrested in connection with the Rs 900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam. Joshi challenged the Rajasthan High Court's earlier decision denying his bail, arguing he was wrongfully implicated. The Enforcement Directorate accused him of receiving bribes, but Joshi contended that the evidence was insufficient. The case involves multiple officials and has revealed a significant corruption network within the tendering process of the JJM scheme. This development raises questions about accountability and transparency in government projects.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 3, 2025, 13:53 IST

Bail Granted to Mahesh Joshi

New Delhi, Dec 3: The Supreme Court has approved bail for Mahesh Joshi, a former minister from Rajasthan, who was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in April over allegations related to the Rs 900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam.

A Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih reviewed a special leave petition (SLP) submitted by Joshi, contesting the Rajasthan High Court's decision from August 26 that denied his bail request.

The High Court's ruling, made by Justice Praveer Bhatnagar, stated that under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), bail can only be granted if the court is initially convinced of the accused's innocence.

Joshi maintained that he was falsely implicated and noted that his name was absent from the original case initiated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

He claimed that despite receiving a notice last year, he was arrested without any new evidence being presented.

Joshi also argued that while the ED accused him of receiving Rs 2.01 crore, they failed to substantiate the source of these funds. He clarified that the Rs 50 lakh transaction involving his son's business was simply a loan that had been repaid.

In opposition, the ED contended that Joshi's involvement was explicitly detailed in a separate FIR filed by the ACB. They asserted that the Rs 50 lakh transaction could not be dismissed just because it was later returned.

The agency further alleged that Joshi accepted bribes during the tendering process within his department.

Previously, the ACB had filed an FIR against 22 individuals, including Joshi, in connection with the extensive Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam. The accused list also featured senior officials from the department, such as the financial advisor, chief engineer, additional chief engineer, superintendent engineer, and executive engineer.

According to the ACB, a significant breakthrough was achieved through the examination of an email ID, which led to the discovery of crucial evidence.

By tracking and analyzing related email accounts, investigators uncovered the names of several officials implicated in awarding tenders based on fraudulent certificates. The investigation has unveiled a substantial network of officials and contractors allegedly involved in manipulating the tendering process to enable widespread corruption under the JJM scheme.