Datia MLA Rajendra Bharti Convicted, Loses Assembly Seat in Late-Night Order

Congress legislator sentenced to three years in 27-year-old cooperative bank fraud; MP Assembly secretariat acts swiftly as party cries foul

Conviction Rocks MP Politics

In a development that has shaken Madhya Pradesh's political landscape, Datia Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti — a three-time legislator and senior party leader — was convicted by a Delhi MP-MLA court in a long-pending cooperative bank fraud case.

The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi sentenced him to three years in jail on Thursday. After pronouncing the quantum of punishment, the court granted him bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000, and gave him 30 days to file an appeal in the High Court.

What the Court Found

The court held that Bharti and co-accused Raghuvir Sharan Prajapati, along with Savitri Devi and possibly other unknown persons, entered into a criminal conspiracy to cheat the Zila Sahkari Krishi Aur Gramin Vikas Bank, Datia, by continuing to draw interest at a higher rate beyond 2011, despite the original fixed deposit tenure being only three years.

Bharti was found guilty under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 471 (use of forged documents) of the Indian Penal Code. The court was categorical in its observations, noting that bank documents — treated as valuable securities — were forged as part of a deliberate plan to defraud the institution.

The 27-Year-Old Case

The roots of the matter stretch back to 1998. The case dates back to 1998, when Bharti was chairman of a cooperative bank in Datia. His mother, Savitri Shyam, had an FDR of Rs 10 lakh made at the bank in her capacity as chairperson of Shyam Sundar Sansthan.

According to the charge sheet, the original FD tenure of three years was fraudulently altered to 15 years in bank records, and interest at 13.5 per cent per annum was drawn from 1999 to 2011. A BJP leader who took charge of the bank in 2011 flagged the discrepancy, triggering an audit. When Bharti sought the FD amount in 2012, the bank refused on account of audit objections. The dispute wound through consumer forums, the Supreme Court, and finally landed before the MP-MLA court in Gwalior — before being transferred to Delhi. The Supreme Court, acting on Bharti's own petition, directed in October 2025 that the trial be transferred to the MP-MLA court at the Rouse Avenue Court complex in Delhi, with instructions to conclude proceedings within six months.

Membership Terminated Overnight

Hours after the verdict, events moved swiftly in Bhopal. The MP Assembly secretariat opened late Thursday night, and the Principal Secretary issued an order declaring Bharti's seat vacant and set the process in motion to notify the Election Commission of India.

Congress state president Jitu Patwari and former MLA P.C. Sharma rushed to the Assembly secretariat on learning of the midnight proceedings. According to sources, both leaders confronted the Principal Secretary directly, demanding to know why the secretariat had been opened at that hour. He left without responding to their questions.

Patwari alleged that the move was politically driven and violated established procedure. "This is being done at BJP's behest," he said, filing a formal objection with the secretariat on the spot.

Congress Cries Foul Ahead of Rajya Sabha Polls

The timing has drawn sharp reactions from the Opposition, particularly given the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for May. Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar alleged that the BJP's intentions regarding the Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh were becoming apparent, accusing the party of attempting to poach Congress MLAs and, when that failed, using old legal cases against them.

Singhar also pointed to the termination of Congress MLA Mukesh Malhotra's membership from the Vijaypur constituency, which he said prevented Malhotra from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections. Congress maintained that the swift midnight action on Bharti's membership was without precedent and contrary to due process, particularly when an appeal window remains open.

Legal Relief Still Possible

Senior lawyers note that Bharti's legislative future is not entirely foreclosed. Legal experts note that he has 60 days to file an appeal, and if he secures a stay on the sentence from the High Court, his membership could remain intact in the interim.

His son Anuj Bharti confirmed that his father had been taken into custody and that the family would move the High Court at the earliest opportunity, seeking both a stay on the sentence and bail.

Political Stakes for MP Assembly

The Congress has 65 legislators in the house. If Bharti fails to obtain a stay, the party will be left with 63 members. With Rajya Sabha elections approaching, the arithmetic is being watched carefully on both sides of the aisle. The Congress needs 58 votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat, and while it currently has enough, the BJP is reportedly planning to field a candidate for a third seat, sensing an opportunity.

What Comes Next

Bharti's legal team is expected to move the Madhya Pradesh High Court within days for a stay on the conviction. Until a court grants relief, the Datia seat technically stands vacant, and election authorities may proceed toward a by-election. The case has become the latest flashpoint in a state where the lines between judicial process and political manoeuvring are being sharply contested, with both sides watching every legal development in the days ahead.