Bhopal, April 3: The assembly membership of Congress leader Rajendra Bharti has been terminated following his conviction in a cooperative bank scam. The official order was issued by the assembly secretariat late Thursday night.
The assembly secretariat’s gazette has declared the Datia assembly seat vacant. This decision comes after Bharti was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in the fraud case, in accordance with legal provisions.
The official gazette states, “Rajendra Bharti, elected from the 22-Datia constituency of Madhya Pradesh’s sixteenth assembly, has been convicted by a Delhi court. As a result of the conviction, he has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment and fined ₹1 lakh. Due to his punishment, and in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order (July 10, 2013), Rajendra Bharti has been disqualified from assembly membership under Article 191(1)(c) of the Constitution, read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, effective from April 2, 2026. Consequently, a seat has become vacant in the Madhya Pradesh assembly.”
Previously, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi sentenced Bharti to three years in prison in connection with the cooperative bank scam. His co-accused, Raghuveer Sharan Prajapati, received the same sentence.
On Wednesday, the court found Rajendra Bharti guilty, leading to his immediate incarceration. The court ruled that he was guilty of criminal conspiracy under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, as well as fraud and forgery-related offenses under Sections 420, 467, 468, and 471.
This case has been under scrutiny for a long time, and its hearings have been contentious. Bharti had approached the Supreme Court to transfer his trial from the MP-MLA Court in Gwalior to Delhi. He alleged that senior BJP leader and former Home Minister Narottam Mishra, along with his family, attempted to influence the case.
Bharti also claimed that officials from the prosecution were working under political pressure, hindering his right to a fair trial. Based on these allegations, he requested that the trial be held at a location other than Gwalior. The Supreme Court, upon hearing his petition, transferred the case to the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi.
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My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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