The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Jaipur): On February 29, 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), operating out of its Jaipur Zonal Office, apprehended Piyush Jain under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme. The arrest was sanctioned by the Hon’ble Special Court, Jaipur, which granted the ED a four-day custodial period to conduct a thorough interrogation of the accused.
The ED’s actions stem from an investigation initiated on the backdrop of an FIR lodged by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jaipur. The FIR implicated Padamchand Jain (owner of M/s. Shree Shyam Tubewell Company), Mahesh Mittal (owner of M/s Shree Ganpati Tubewell Company), Piyush Jain, among others, in allegations of bribery to public officials. The accused were purportedly seeking to secure illegal advantages, including tender acquisition, bill sanctioning, and the concealment of irregularities concerning various contracts awarded by the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED).
Investigations by the ED brought to light the involvement of Padamchand Jain and Mahesh Mittal in the acquisition of JJM project tenders through fraudulent means, including the use of allegedly counterfeit completion certificates from M/s IRCON and bribery of senior PHED officials. The probe also identified several intermediaries and real estate agents who facilitated the laundering of proceeds from the scam.
Piyush Jain, found to be centrally involved in the operations of the implicated firms, was discovered to have received approximately Rs. 3.5 Crore, identified as proceeds from the crime. Analysis of his call detail records (CDR) indicated attempts to influence PHED officials. Despite multiple summons for inquiry into the final beneficiaries of the laundered funds, Jain failed to cooperate with the investigation.
In a significant crackdown, the ED has previously conducted raids on over 70 locations, resulting in the seizure of assets worth Rs. 11.03 Crore, including gold and silver valued at Rs. 6.50 Crore. The arrest of Piyush Jain marks a crucial development in the ongoing investigation into the Jal Jeevan Mission scam, with further inquiries aimed at uncovering the full extent of the financial irregularities and bringing all involved parties to justice.