Rajendra Bharti gets 3-year jail:Congress MLA convicted in FD fraud case, granted bail by MP-MLA court

Datia Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti has been convicted by a Delhi MP-MLA court in a 27-year-old fixed deposit (FD) fraud case. On Thursday, the court sentenced him to three years in jail but granted him bail. The court found him guilty under charges of criminal conspiracy (Section 120B) and cheating and forgery (Sections 420, 467, 468, 471). Co-accused bank clerk Raghuveer Prajapati was also convicted in the case. The court awarded three-year sentences under two charges and a two-year sentence under another. This has put his MLA membership at risk. However, legal experts say he has 60 days to file an appeal. If he gets a stay on the sentence from the High Court, his membership may remain intact. For now, it remains under threat. Interest withdrawn using forged FD documents In 1998, while serving as chairman of the District Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank, Bharti had created an FD of ₹10 lakh for an institution run in his father’s name. At the time, the interest rate was 13.5% and the tenure was fixed at three years. It is alleged that Bharti, in collusion with bank clerk Raghuveer Prajapati, tampered with the FD documents by first extending the tenure to 10 years and then to 15 years. During this period, despite a fall in interest rates, they continued to withdraw interest at the rate of 13.5% every year. BJP leader exposed the case The matter came to light on March 3, 2011, when BJP leader Pappu Pujari took charge as bank chairman. Then Joint Registrar of the Cooperative Department, Abhay Khare, conducted an inquiry, during which an audit objection was raised on the FD. In 2012, Bharti sought payment of the FD amount from the bank, but it was refused due to the audit objection. After not receiving the payment, Bharti approached the consumer forum, where he did not get relief. Although he later got relief from the state consumer forum, the matter eventually reached the National Consumer Forum and then the Supreme Court, where he was denied relief. In 2015, then Collector Prakash Jangre initiated action to register a criminal case. Following court directions, a case was registered under various IPC sections. After the formation of MP-MLA courts, the case was shifted to Gwalior and later transferred to the Delhi MP-MLA court in October 2025. Sections under which he was convicted IPC 420: Cheating (up to 7 years imprisonment)
IPC 467: Forgery of valuable documents (up to life imprisonment or 10 years)
IPC 468: Forgery for the purpose of cheating (up to 7 years)
IPC 471: Use of forged documents
IPC 120B: Criminal conspiracy MLA membership under threat As per legal provisions, if Bharti is sentenced to two years or more, he can lose his MLA membership. However, if he obtains a stay on the sentence from the High Court, relief is possible. Bharti’s son, Anuj Bharti, said that his father has been arrested and sent to jail. They will challenge the verdict in the High Court and file for bail. By-election likely if seat falls vacant Following the conviction, political activity in the constituency has intensified. With a three-year sentence awarded, his membership is under threat, and if the seat falls vacant, a by-election may be required.