The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had raided premises of former IAS officer Subodh Agarwal on November 3, 2023 when the code of conduct was under force due to assembly elections. The agency raided few more technical officers and seized cash of around Rs 11.5 crore in the alleged Ra 990-crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam.
The agency interrogated Agarwal thoroughly but did not arrest. Agarwal, who was then serving as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) PHED, was transferred after the BJP government formed to a less important position of Director General Indira Gandhi Panchayatiraj Sansthan. The ED continued with its investigation in JJM scam and arrested the then PHED minister Mahesh Joshi in April 2025. Joshi later was released on bail from Supreme Court after languishing in jail for 8 months.
During the course of intense investigation, ED, which allegedly found involvement of PHED minister, could not establish any link with former IAS Subodh Agarwal. The senior IAS officer continued his service till retirement in December 2025.
Just few days before his retirement, the state government gives permission to ACB to investigate Subodh Agarwal in JJM case. The agency allowed Agarwal retire from his post and then suddenly raided his premises in February only to find Agarwal missing. Since then the IAS is on run and ACB is on his trail.
What ACB found which ED could not?
The central agency interrogated Agarwal who was available during investigation. But ED could not find any reason to detain or arrest Agarwal. Then suddenly what did ACB find which led them to chase Agarwal.
“There is no new development in JJM case. It is revolving around the fake experience certificate which contractors used to earn the contract. So why suddenly fire is on Agarwal?” questions a retired IAS officer who served with Agarwal.
Agarwal was a powerful bureaucrat during Gehlot regime
Subodh Agarwal had good time during Gehlot's regime. He had what bureaucracy calls plum postings all through five years. He had served as ACS Industries, Mines and Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energy, PHED. At one point of time, he was handling energy and mines department simultaneously as regular charges. Similarly, he was doubled up as ACS PHED and Mines as regular charges.
He was considered close to then chief minister Ashok Gehlot. So much so that when ED raided Agarwal's premises, he earned sympathy of being a political victim.
“There is a section of bureaucracy which says that Agarwal is still being victim of being close to Ashok Gehlot. They feel that ACB, which didn't touch Agarwal during Gehlot regime, is hounding him in the BJP government,” said a senior IAS officer.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
