Datia MLA Rajendra Bharti sent to jail:Delhi Court convicts him in land development scam, FD forgery

The Delhi MP-MLA Court has convicted Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti from Datia, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday in a case related to the Land Development Bank. The court found him guilty under Section 420 (fraud) of the Indian Penal Code. The court has sent Rajendra Bharti to Tihar Jail. MLA Rajendra Bharti had made a fixed deposit of ₹10.50 lakh in the bank in his mother’s name for three years, which was earning 13.50% interest. The allegation is that later, the FD period was increased from 3 years to 15 years. In this matter, bank employee Narendra Singh filed a complaint in court. The court took the complaint seriously, considered it a case of fraud, and ordered the registration of a case. Ashok Dangi, Congress district president from Datia, said that the court has only convicted MLA Rajendra Bharti so far. How much sentence has been given, or what punishment has been awarded – no update has come from the court yet on this. The irregularity was from 25 years ago This case is about 25 years old, when former Datia MLA Rajendra Bharti was the chairman of the District Cooperative Agricultural Rural Bank of Datia. During that time, he made an FD (fixed deposit) of ₹10 lakh in 1998 in the name of his mother, late Savitri Devi, which had a tenure of 3 years. At that time, 13.5% annual interest was being offered. The allegation is that while holding the position of chairman, he withdrew the FD interest separately every year contrary to the rules, whereas according to regulations, interest and principal are given only after maturity. In this way, payments were made against the rules for three years. FD tenure was extended by tampering with documents The allegation is that in 2001, when the FD was about to mature and interest rates in the market had decreased, Rajendra Bharti misused his position and tampered with documents to extend the period by 3 more years. Even after this, he continued to receive interest every year at the high rate of 13.5%. It is alleged that in 2004, documents were again altered to extend the FD period by approximately 10 more years, allowing him to continue receiving higher interest. This entire scheme was carried out through forged documents and alterations in records. Case came to light in 2003, and evidence found in investigation The bank management became aware of the irregularities in 2003, after which an internal investigation was initiated. The investigation found Rajendra Bharti and his mother guilty. Subsequently, the case reached the consumer forum and the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court of Datia. Documentary evidence and statements from both parties were recorded in court. After the preliminary hearing, the court registered a case for fraud, forgery, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy (IPC 420, 467, 468, 471, 409, 120B) and ordered a police investigation. During the investigation, a bank employee was also made an accused. Battle from High Court to Supreme Court, then case transferred to Delhi MP-MLA Court In this case, Rajendra Bharti filed petitions from the High Court to the Supreme Court challenging the case registered against him, but did not get relief. Later, he appealed to the Supreme Court that a fair hearing was not possible in Madhya Pradesh, after which the case was transferred to the Special Sessions Court in Delhi. Initially, this case was heard in the Datia Court, then hearings took place in the MP-MLA Court, Gwalior, and Delhi. After a long hearing, the court has found guilt in this case.