Latest news with #JaikrishnPatel
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP MLA Jaikrishn Patel refuses to give voice sample, says ACB's FIR
Jaipur: Bagidora MLA Jaikrishn Patel is not cooperating with the investigation and has refused to provide a voice sample, according to the FIR registered in the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) asked both Jaikrishn Patel and his cousin Vijay Kumar Patel, alias Vicky, to submit voice samples, which are crucial for the forensic matching of recorded conversations during the bribe negotiation and acceptance. However, both refused to ACB has named five accused in the case and booked them under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and Sections 61(2) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya to the FIR—a copy of which is with TOI—Patel is accused of demanding Rs 2.5 crore from Ravindra Kumar, a mine operator based in Karauli, in exchange for withdrawing an assembly question related to alleged violations at Kumar's mining operation in Dhawan village, Todabhim tehsil. The amount was negotiated down to Rs 2 crore, and the MLA allegedly agreed to accept it in FIR states that the conversation between the ACB complainant and Patel regarding the bribe began on March 22, when Patel's personal assistant, Rohit Meena, asked the complainant to meet him at Indira Gandhi Nagar. During the meeting, Meena initially mentioned "2.5," which the complainant assumed to mean Rs 2.5 lakh. However, Patel later clarified that the demand was actually for Rs 2.5 the last week of April, the complainant handed over Rs 1 lakh to Patel, which helped the ACB verify the complaint. On May 4, the ACB laid a trap during which Patel and Vicky reportedly discussed, inspected, and accepted Rs 20 lakh in cash from the complainant at the MLA's official residence. The bag containing the cash was later handed over in the parking area and subsequently concealed, a fact that the FIR says has been prima facie ACB stated that Patel abused his public office to obtain illegal gratification, constituting offences under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), and Sections 61(2) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Udaipur MP seeks ED probe into tribal party's finances
Jaipur: A day after the Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested Bharatiya Adivasi Party MLA Jaikrishn Patel while accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh, BJP MP from Udaipur, Mannalal Rawat, said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should investigate the tribal outfit's finances. In a letter to ED on Monday, Rawat asked how BAP, only 20 months old, was able to fund electoral campaigns across 13 assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat in four districts. "I have credible evidence to prove that four BAP MLAs in the assembly are involved in financial irregularities," Rawat alleged. Highlighting the party's modest beginnings in Sept 2023, Rawat said BAP had no resources, not even a formal office, at its inception. Despite this, the party fielded candidates in 19 constituencies, all of whom are first-generation politicians. "Most of their candidates declared negligible or no assets, minimal savings, and no sustainable income sources. Yet, social media posts show them campaigning with cavalcades of 10–20 vehicles, large public rallies with tents, and mass catering events. These require substantial funding," Rawat said. He said ED should examine the official bank accounts of the party as well as those of its candidates. "Even the family members of candidates and party office bearers must be scrutinised," he added, speaking on the sidelines of the Rajasthan BJP legislators' training session in Gujarat.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ACB digs up Rajasthan MLA's Rs20 lakh bribe buried in lawn
ACB digs up Rajasthan MLA's Rs20 lakh bribe buried in lawn JAIPUR: Rajasthan anti-corruption bureau ( ACB ) on Monday recovered Rs 20 lakh bribe money received by Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA Jaikrishn Patel , a day after his personal assistant fled with the cash during the agency's entrapment operation. The cash, allegedly paid to the MLA by a mine operator for not raising any queries in the Assembly with regard to his mining activities, was recovered from Indira Gandhi Nagar , where it was buried under a lawn. Patel, who was arrested on Sunday, was produced before a local court on Monday and was remanded in ACB custody for two days. Officers said the MLA's personal assistant Rohit Meena handed over the money to his uncle, Laxman Meena alias Jaswant, who was arrested Monday. Under sustained interrogation, Laxman said he gave the cash to an acquaintance, Jagaram Meena, who, believing it to be related to a failed land deal, buried the bag in the lawn and poured water over it.
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
BAP MLA Jaikrishn Patel bribery case: ACB recovers Rs 20 Lakh
Jaipur: Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA Jaikrishn Patel, representing Bagidora constituency in Banswara district, has been sent to two days' remand after he was arrested in connection with a bribery scandal. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has now recovered Rs 20 lakh, allegedly linked to the bribe demand by the legislator. The ACB team raided Patel's residence on Sunday. During the operation, a person reportedly fled the premises carrying cash. Patel was later arrested at his official residence in Jyotinagar, Jaipur. While the ACB has not disclosed exactly where the money was recovered or who was in possession of it, the agency confirmed that a forensic investigation is underway. CCTV footage from Patel's quarters has been seized, and the server room is being examined by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Earlier, Patel, along with his cousin, was produced in a court in Jaipur and sent to a two-day police remand. Outside the court, Patel claimed he was being framed. The ACB has interrogated several of Patel's aides, including his gunman, driver, office staff, and social media team. All were released later that night. The case escalated after the complainant, Ravindra Singh, alleged that Patel demanded Rs 2.5 crore, threatening to shut down his mine using his influence over mining department officials. Singh claimed Patel warned him to pay by May 15 or face consequences, boasting that his political clout could overpower even the government. The controversy deepened when Patel reportedly withdrew questions he had submitted in the Rajasthan Assembly. Speaker Vasudev Devnani criticised the move, calling it inappropriate. He stated that any decision on Patel's MLA status would hinge on the court's verdict. The case has sparked widespread concern over alleged corruption, intimidation, and misuse of power by an elected representative. Udaipur MP Dr Mannalal Rawat condemned the incident, calling the BAP a party 'born out of corruption and lies' and accused its leaders of exploiting tribal communities for personal gain. He demanded that such individuals be stripped of their MLA status. Congress leader Sachin Pilot termed the incident 'unfortunate' and urged voters to reflect on the kind of leaders they elect. 'This is the first such bribery case in Rajasthan's Assembly history. It's time to reflect on the state of our politics,' he said.
Scroll.in
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Rajasthan MLA arrested for allegedly accepting bribe to drop Assembly questions
The Rajasthan Police on Sunday arrested Bharat Adivasi Party MLA Jaikrishn Patel for allegedly accepting Rs 20 lakh as bribe from a mine owner to withdraw questions in the Legislative Assembly about mining leases in Karauli district, The Hindu reported. Jaikrishn Patel, who represents Banswara district's Bagidora, and an alleged middleman named Vijay Kumar Patel were caught ' red-handed ' at the MLA quarters in Jaipur, The Indian Express quoted Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General Ravi Prakash Meharda as saying. The mine owner, Ravindra Kumar, had filed a complaint against Jaikrishn Patel on April 4. Kumar alleged that the legislator accused him of illegal mining and pressured him by listing three questions related to mining leases in Karauli district's Todabhim block in the previous session of the Assembly. 'The complainant has mines and the three questions put up by the MLA are also related to mines, even though the complainant's mines are hundreds of kilometres away from the MLA's constituency,' The Indian Express quoted Meharda as saying. Jaikrishn Patel allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 10 crore from Kumar to drop the questions, The Hindu reported. Two of the questions in the Assembly were starred, which requires an oral answer from a minister during the Question Hour in the Assembly. The third one was unstarred. 'Following the negotiations, the bribe deal was struck at Rs 2 crore, which was to be paid in instalments,' The Hindu quoted Meharda as saying. 'The mine owner paid Rs 1 lakh [to the MLA] in a visit to Banswara.' On Sunday, Kumar went to the legislator's home to pay the second instalment of Rs 20 lakh on the instructions of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. While Jaikrishn Patel was arrested, his close aide fled with the money. 'A manhunt has been launched to nab the staff member,' The Hindu quoted Meharda as saying. 'The cash could not be recovered, but we have sufficient evidence of the MLA having received the money. We conducted a colour test on his fingers and have audio-visual recording of the incident.' Meharda said that the legislator was being questioned about his interest in the mining activities in Todabhim. Following his arrest, Bharat Adivasi Party Rajkumar Roat said that action would be taken if Jaikrishn Patel was found to be guilty. However, he said that the legislator could also be a 'victim of conspiracy', The Hindu reported. 'It is not clear how the money was offered to him,' The Hindu quoted Roat as saying. 'Rajasthan has witnessed conspiracies against the political parties which challenged the dominance of big players.' The incident was the first instance of the bureau arresting a legislator in the state, The Indian Express reported.
