NEW DELHI (Tuesday, April 7, 2026) — Disqualified Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti has moved the Delhi High Court to challenge his recent conviction and three-year prison sentence in a high-profile cheating and forgery case. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued a notice to the prosecution on Tuesday and scheduled the next hearing for April 15, 2026.
Bharti is also seeking a stay on his conviction to stall the disqualification process and has requested the court to direct the Election Commission of India not to notify a by-election for his now-vacant Datia assembly seat.
The Case: ₹18.5 Lakh Bank Fraud (1998–2011)
The case involves financial irregularities at the Zila Sahkari Krishi Aur Gramin Vikas Bank (District Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank) in Datia, where Bharti formerly served as the Chairman.
- The Scheme: According to the prosecution, Bharti’s late mother, Savitri Devi, deposited ₹10 lakh in a fixed deposit (FD) in 1998 for a three-year term at 13.5% interest.
- The Forgery: Instead of withdrawing the amount upon maturity in 2001, the accused allegedly tampered with bank ledgers and receipts using correction fluid and overwriting to extend the FD’s term to 15 years.
- Illegal Gains: This allowed the family trust to continue withdrawing high-interest payments until 2011, long after market rates had dropped, resulting in an illegal gain of approximately ₹18.5 lakh.
Trial Court Verdict & Disqualification
On April 2, 2026, Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh at the Rouse Avenue Court sentenced Bharti and former bank cashier Raghuvir Sharan Prajapati to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
| Conviction | April 1, 2026 | Found guilty of conspiracy, cheating, and forgery. |
| Sentencing | April 2, 2026 | 3 years jail + ₹1 lakh fine; 60-day bail granted to appeal. |
| Disqualification | April 3, 2026 | Membership of MP Assembly annulled; Datia seat declared vacant. |
| High Court Appeal | April 7, 2026 | Notice issued; hearing set for April 15. |
Political Fallout
The disqualification has triggered a political firestorm in Madhya Pradesh. Bharti is a prominent Congress leader who defeated former state Home Minister Narottam Mishra in the 2023 assembly elections.
The MP Congress, led by state president Jitu Patwari, has labeled the disqualification “hasty,” noting that the assembly secretariat issued the notification late at night on April 2, just hours after the sentencing, despite the court granting Bharti two months to file an appeal. The ruling BJP, however, maintains the action was a mandatory legal consequence under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which requires automatic disqualification for any legislator sentenced to two or more years in prison.
Sources
- The Hindu: “Congress MLA disqualified from M.P. Assembly hours after sentence” (April 3, 2026).
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Delhi court sentences Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti to 3 years’ imprisonment” (April 2, 2026).
- Awaz The Voice: “Gramin Vikas Bank case: Bharti moves court for relief” (April 7, 2026).
- The New Indian Express: “Delhi court awards three-year-jail term to MP Congress MLA” (April 2, 2026).
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