MLA ‘caught red-handed accepting Rs 20-lakh bribe’, Rajasthan ACB makes first such arrest

By | May 5, 2025

Rajasthan MLA Jaikrishn Patel Arrested for Bribery

Rajasthan’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested 37-year-old MLA Jaikrishn Patel on Sunday. The first-time MLA from the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) allegedly accepted a Rs 20-lakh bribe in exchange for withdrawing questions about illegal mining in the Rajasthan Assembly.

Details of the Arrest

ACB Director General Ravi Prakash Meharda reported that Patel and middleman Vijay Kumar Patel received the bribe at the MLA quarters in Jaipur. The ACB caught them red-handed. However, before the authorities arrived, Patel passed the bribe money to an aide, who managed to escape.

Bribery Allegations and Investigation

Ravindra Kumar, a mine owner, filed the complaint. He claimed Patel pressured him with accusations of illegal mining. Patel reportedly threatened to raise mining-related questions in the Assembly unless Kumar paid to withdraw them. These mines are located in Todabhim, about 600 km from Patel’s constituency in Banswara. Kumar and his father, BJP leader Ramniwas Meena, own the mines.

Negotiations and the Trap Setup

Patel initially demanded Rs 10 crore. Eventually, the amount dropped to Rs 2.5 crore. Over a month, the ACB set up the trap. They recorded the first installment of Rs 1 lakh, which Patel accepted earlier in Banswara. On Sunday, the second installment of Rs 20 lakh reached Patel before his arrest.

BAP MP’s Reaction

BAP MP Rajkumar Roat raised concerns about a potential conspiracy. He pointed out Patel’s rapid rise within the party and suggested that this might have provoked attempts to undermine the BAP. Roat emphasized that the party would consult with Patel before deciding on further actions.

ACB’s Operation and Political Context

Since the case involved an MLA, the ACB briefed Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani before launching the operation. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who also serves as the Home Minister, remained informed throughout the investigation.

Patel’s arrest followed the Bagidora bypoll. This election occurred after Congress MLA Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya resigned and joined the BJP. Patel won the seat, and BAP now holds four seats in the Rajasthan Assembly. Rajkumar Roat, the BAP MP, won with support from the INDIA bloc.