Rajasthan ACB Arrests Bharat Adivasi Party MLA Jaikrishn Patel on Bribery Charges

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Rajasthan arrested Bharat Adivasi Party MLA Jaikrishn Patel on Sunday. He allegedly accepted a bribe of Rs 20 lakh to withdraw three questions from the state Assembly, according to a senior ACB official. This marks the first instance of an MLA being apprehended in a corruption case by the Rajasthan ACB, stated Director General Ravi Prakash Meharda.

Patel, aged 38, represents the Bagidora assembly constituency in Banswara district. He was elected as an MLA during the bypolls held alongside last year's Lok Sabha elections. The MLA allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 10 crore to drop questions concerning mines, but the deal was settled at Rs 2.5 crore. During verification, the complainant handed over Rs 1 lakh to Patel in Banswara.

Bribery Allegations and Evidence

On Sunday, Patel was caught at the MLA quarters while accepting Rs 20 lakh. Meharda mentioned that Patel gave the cash-filled bag to another individual who managed to flee with it. The ACB is currently questioning Patel about this person. The DG asserted that audio and video evidence exists to support claims of Patel's bribery demands and acceptance.

Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) convener and Banswara MP Rajkumar Roat commented on the situation. "The party will take action against the MLA if his involvement is found," he said. Roat also suggested that it might be a conspiracy by the BJP government but assured that appropriate measures would be taken if Patel's involvement is confirmed.

Political Reactions and Investigations

The Assembly Speaker was informed about the case, and upon receiving permission, the trap was set leading to Patel's arrest. The MLA had submitted questions related to mines owned by the complainant, which are outside his constituency. Initially, Patel insisted on receiving Rs 20 lakh in Banswara, but the complainant persuaded him to collect it in Jaipur.

On the day of the incident, Patel called the complainant to meet at the MLA quarters in Jaipur's Jyoti Nagar. Once there, the complainant handed over a bag containing cash to Patel, who then passed it to an accomplice present with him. After receiving a signal from the complainant that the transaction occurred, ACB officials apprehended Patel.

Political Implications and Statements

Former deputy chief minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed his views on this incident. "No one is above the law," he remarked, emphasizing clean politics' importance and calling for a thorough investigation. Pilot also accused central agencies of being misused as political tools by the government.

Pilot highlighted that agencies like ED, income tax, and CBI have been given excessive freedom. He cited a Supreme Court observation stating that ED cases have a conviction rate of just 1 per cent. Additionally, he accused BJP leaders of using these agencies to tarnish political opponents' reputations nationwide.

The Bagidora assembly seat became vacant after Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya joined BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This development adds another layer of complexity to Rajasthan's political landscape amid ongoing investigations into corruption allegations against Jaikrishn Patel.

With inputs from PTI