Jaipur: Former IAS officer Subodh Agarwal, arrested in connection with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, was on Friday remanded to three days of custody by the ACB Court. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had sought a five-day remand for further interrogation.
During the hearing, ACB officials informed the court that the case involves large-scale fraud and serious financial irregularities. They argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to thoroughly investigate the alleged scam and uncover the full extent of wrongdoing.
The defence, however, objected to the arrest, claiming that Agarwal had not been informed of the grounds for his detention. His lawyers argued that the case had been pending for a considerable period and questioned the need for arrest at this stage. They also cited Supreme Court guidelines, which mandate that the accused must be informed of the grounds of arrest and provided a copy of the remand application before being produced in court.
Speaking to the media before the hearing, Agarwal denied surrendering under pressure. “I have neither surrendered nor been brought here under duress. I have come of my own volition to cooperate with the investigation. I have faith in the justice system, he said while adding, ‘Satyameva Jayate’. Agarwal was arrested on Thursday after being taken into custody in New Delhi and brought to Jaipur, where his formal arrest was recorded.
The ACB has alleged that Agarwal was involved in manipulating tender conditions using forged certificates to facilitate the approval of projects worth up to Rs 50 crore. He is also accused of misusing his official position and committing irregularities in the tender process under the Jal Jeevan Mission. So far, 10 individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, while three accused remain absconding.
Standing warrants have been issued against them, and proceedings to attach their properties are underway. In its efforts to track down Agarwal, the ACB conducted raids at around 260 locations over 51 days, deploying 18 teams. He reportedly changed hideouts multiple times, evading arrest despite continuous surveillance. Inputs suggested he had been hiding in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Mumbai.
Following court orders declaring him a fugitive and initiating action to attach his suspected assets, Agarwal appeared before authorities. He was medically examined on Thursday night and produced in court on Friday.
With a three-day remand granted, the ACB will now interrogate him regarding the alleged irregularities in the JJM scam and identify those who may have assisted him while he was on the run. Look-Out Circulars had also been issued earlier to prevent the accused from fleeing the country.
(IANS)
