Rajasthan MLA Caught Taking Rs 20 Lakh Bribe to Drop Assembly Questions,Political Tension

Jaipur:
In an unprecedented crackdown, the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Sunday arrested Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA Jaikrishn Patel for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh in exchange for dropping three questions related to mining issues from the state Assembly.

This is the first time in the history of the Rajasthan ACB that an elected legislator has been arrested in a corruption case, said Director General Ravi Prakash Meharda. Patel, 38, a first-time MLA from Bagidora in Banswara district, had allegedly demanded Rs 10 crore from a complainant to withhold questions concerning mines not located in his constituency. The deal was eventually settled for Rs 2.5 crore.

The complainant had initially paid Rs 1 lakh in Banswara to verify the claim. On Sunday, Patel was caught red-handed at the MLA quarters in Jaipur while receiving Rs 20 lakh in cash. ACB officials said that after taking the cash, Patel passed the bag to an associate who managed to escape with it. The agency is now questioning the MLA to trace the person.

DG Meharda stated that audio and video evidence of the bribe exchange exists, which will strengthen the case in court. The Rajasthan Assembly Speaker had been informed in advance, and his consent was taken before the operation was carried out.

Patel’s party, BAP — which holds four seats in the 200-member Assembly — responded cautiously. Banswara MP and BAP convener Rajkumar Roat said the party is investigating the matter and promised action if Patel’s guilt is confirmed, though he also hinted at the possibility of political conspiracy by the BJP government.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot called the incident unfortunate and emphasized the need for clean politics. However, he also criticized the Central government for allegedly using agencies like the ED, Income Tax, and CBI for political vendettas, citing their low conviction rates.

The Bagidora seat, once held by Congress MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, had been won by Patel in a bypoll after Malviya joined the BJP.

This arrest has not only shaken the BAP but also reignited debates over political accountability, misuse of power, and the integrity of investigative agencies in India’s political landscape.

News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.