NEW DELHI DEC,01: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notices to all defendants in a defamation suit filed by former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta, IAS (Retd.), challenging allegations of a purported “Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam.”
Notices have been issued to retired IAS officer Ashok Kumar Parmar, whose accusations form the core of the dispute, along with other respondents named in the suit. The matter has been listed for February 3, when the court will hear arguments on Mehta’s plea for an interim injunction.
Mehta, represented by Advocates Vasudev Sharan Swain and Nar Hari Singh (AoR), has sought ₹2.55 crore in damages, along with interim and permanent injunctions restraining the defendants from publishing or circulating the allegations.
Claims of Fabricated Allegations
The suit asserts that the so-called “JJM scam” narrative is false, malicious, and devoid of evidence. It alleges a sustained campaign to create an impression of a large conspiracy, harming Mehta’s reputation and undermining public trust in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in J&K.
According to the pleadings, the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s enquiry into the allegations found:
- No financial misappropriation
- Tenders were awarded to the lowest eligible bidders through e-tendering
- No favouritism or loss to the exchequer
- The allegations were “Not Substantiated”, and the enquiry was formally closed
No Complaints Received by CBI or NCSC
The plaint notes that despite public claims that complaints had been lodged before the CBI and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, RTI responses from both bodies confirmed that no such complaints were filed.
The suit states that the allegations were based on letters that were drafted and circulated but never actually submitted.
CAT Dismissed Related Petition With Costs
It also references a previous petition before the CAT (Jammu Bench), which was dismissed with ₹1 lakh costs, with the Tribunal calling it “mischievous and frivolous” and intended to harass senior officials.
Inflated ‘Scam Amounts’
The plaint highlights the fluctuating “scam amounts” cited at various times—₹1,000 crore, ₹3,000 crore, ₹4,000 crore, ₹6,000 crore, and even ₹14,000 crore—suggesting sensationalism rather than factual consistency.
Digital Safeguards in JJM
Mehta’s suit underscores that strong digital systems—BEAMS, online administrative and technical sanctions, mandatory e-tendering, PaySyS, PROOF geo-tagged records, and multi-layered vetting—create robust audit trails, leaving no room for manipulation.
JJM Progress on Ground
Citing official and RTI data, the suit records that over 81% of physical works under JJM in J&K were completed by June 2025, across more than 3,780 village schemes, with no instance found of non-execution or non-competitive procurement.
Pattern of Letters and Media Amplification
The plaint describes a pattern of selective leaks and media amplification, tracing 26 circulated letters (2022–2025) and over 140 publications that appeared to echo and amplify unverified claims, creating an “echo chamber” that gave an illusion of credibility.
Suit Seeks Protection of Reputation
According to the plaint, the allegations attempted to tarnish Mehta’s personal and professional reputation and undermine governance reforms undertaken in J&K, especially under national missions post-abrogation of Article 370.
Through the suit, Mehta seeks to protect his professional standing and send a clear legal message that the deliberate dissemination of baseless allegations will attract consequences under law.
