The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former minister and Congress leader Mahesh Joshi. Joshi was questioned by ED officials throughout the day in the Rs 900 crore-Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam.
Congress leader Mahesh Joshi reached the ED headquarters on Thursday after giving several notices.
ED had been calling Mahesh Joshi for questioning for several times, but Mahesh Joshi was avoiding visiting the agency citing personal reasons.
According to the sources, Joshi failed to give satisfactory response to some documents presented by ED.
Not taken money, wife is on death bed
After the ED arrested him, Mahesh Joshi said, “My wife is on death bed. I requested that a case be filed against me. I didn't make any mistakes. I didn't take any money.”
Joshi said, “Action has been taken against me by taking the statements of those against whom I have taken action. I have full faith in the law and order of the country and I hope that I will get justice.”
Gehlot terms ED as extortion department of BJP
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that ED has become the extortion department of the BJP. The arrest of former minister Mahesh Joshi is an example of political vendetta.
“The arrest comes at a time when his wife has been struggling between life and death in a hospital in Jaipur for about 15 days. He wanted to give a statement to the ED after coming out of this difficult situation,” he said
Tubewell company had obtained tenders with fake certificates
The JJM scam is linked to the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission Scheme' of the Centre, which provides taps to every house. In the year 2021, Padamchand Jain and Mahesh Mittal, contractors of Shri Shyam Tubewell Company and M/s Shri Ganpati Tubewell Company, had obtained 4 tenders worth crores of rupees from the water supply department (PHED) by showing fake experience certificates.
Shri Ganpati Tubewell Company had participated in 68 tenders of PHED with fake work certificates. Out of them, 359.2 crore tenders were won in the form of L-1 in 31 tenders.
At the same time, Shri Shyam Tubewell Company participated in 169 tenders and won tenders worth Rs 120.25 crore by participating in 73 tenders as L-1. After the scam came to light, the ACB started an investigation. Many corrupt officials were arrested.
The ED then registered a case and raided the premises of Mahesh Joshi and his associate Sanjay Badaya and others. The CBI then registered a case on May 3, 2024. The ED had completed its investigation and submitted the evidence and documents to the ACB on May 4.
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