ED searches properties of top Rajasthan bureaucrat, others in PHED scam

ED officials said they had initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the ACB Rajasthan.

A total of 25 premises in the state capital Jaipur, and Dausa, including that of ACS in the PHE department, Subodh Agarwal, are being covered, they said. (File photo/Representational)

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday began searches at several locations in Rajasthan, including properties and offices of a top bureaucrat, in connection with a Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) scam.

ED officials are conducting searches on properties linked to Additional Chief Secretary Subodh Agarwal. As ACS, Agarwal holds the charge of PHED and Ground Water Department, Water Resources Department, and State Water Resources Planning Department.

Earlier, the ED had conducted raids in Jaipur, Alwar, Neemrana, Behror and Shahpura on September 1 in connection with the PHED scam under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

VIDEO | ED searches residence of IAS Subodh Agarwal in Jaipur, Rajasthan. More details are awaited.

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As per ED officials, they had initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the ACB Rajasthan.

According to the FIR, Padamchand Jain, proprietor of Shree Shyam Tubewell Company, and Mahesh Mittal, proprietor of Shree Ganpati Tubewell Company, and others were involved in bribing public servants “in order to obtain illegal protection, obtaining tenders, getting bills sanctioned and covering up irregularities in respect of work executed by them in respect of various tenders received by them from PHED department.”

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It said the suspects were also involved in the purchase of stolen goods from Haryana for using the same in their tenders/contracts and had also submitted fake work completion letters from IRCON, a government company, to get PHED contracts.

During the search operations on September 1, unaccounted cash of Rs 2.32 crore, 1 kg gold bar worth Rs 64 lakh and various documents including digital evidence, hard discs, mobiles etc. were seized.

ED said that the seized items “reveal large-scale transactions done by these individuals in connivance with the PHED officials”.

Hamza Khan

Hamza Khan is a seasoned Correspondent for The Indian Express, specifically reporting from the diverse and politically dynamic state of Rajasthan. Based in Jaipur, he provides high-authority coverage on the state's governance, legal landscape, and social issues, directly supporting the "Journalism of Courage" ethos of the publication. Expertise Politics & Governance: Comprehensive tracking of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, including policy changes (e.g., the Right to Health Bill and Anti-Mob Lynching Bills), bypoll dynamics, and the shifting power structures between the BJP and Congress. ... Read More

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