Jaipur, May 13 In the Jal Jeevan Mission scam case, the Anti-Corruption Bureau produced accused Sanjay Badaya before the court on Tuesday, after which the court remanded him to judicial custody.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau had sought an additional three-day remand for further interrogation, citing new facts that allegedly emerged during questioning.
However, after hearing arguments from both sides, the court rejected the request and ordered that Badaya be sent to jail.
Anti-Corruption Bureau officials reached the court with Badaya and presented their arguments seeking an extension of custody.
The defence, meanwhile, requested judicial custody for the accused.
Following the hearing, the court ordered Badaya’s judicial remand, and he was taken to jail around noon.
Badaya had been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau at Delhi Airport on Monday, May 11, and was subsequently brought to Jaipur and produced before the court, which had earlier granted Anti-Corruption Bureau custody till May 13.
When questioned by media personnel regarding his arrest and alleged involvement in the scam, Sanjay Badaya did not respond to any questions.
During the court proceedings, Badaya’s wife was also present and remained with him until he was taken to jail.
Throughout the appearance, Badaya was seen covering his face, apparently to avoid cameras and media interaction.
According to sources, the Anti-Corruption Bureau questioned Badaya regarding alleged commission transactions, his role as an intermediary between contractors and the department, his relationship with former minister Mahesh Joshi, and alleged interference in departmental work, transfers, and postings.
Investigators claim that firms, including M/s Shriganpati Tubewell Company and M/s Shrishyam Tubewell Company, secured tenders worth nearly Rs 960 crore by allegedly using fake completion certificates purportedly issued by IRCON International Limited.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau is reportedly treating Badaya as one of the key accused in the alleged scam due to his proximity to Mahesh Joshi and to the retired Indian Administrative Service officer Subodh Agarwal.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Sanjay Badaya at Delhi Airport around 2 a.m. on Sunday night after returning to India from Thailand, where he had reportedly attended a wedding.
On Monday, both Mahesh Joshi and Sanjay Badaya were produced before the Anti-Corruption Bureau court in Jaipur.
Mahesh Joshi had earlier been arrested on May 7 in the same case.
During the hearing, the Anti-Corruption Bureau sought three days’ police remand for Mahesh Joshi and five days’ police remand for Sanjay Badaya.
After hearing arguments, the court sent Mahesh Joshi to judicial custody, while Sanjay Badaya was remanded to three days’ police custody for further interrogation.
--IANS
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