Delhi court convicts Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti of cheating, forgery
Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti has been convicted by a Delhi court of cheating and forgery, along with former cashier Raghuvir Prajapati.
The case, which started back in 2015 and was shifted to Delhi over concerns about a fair trial, centers on Bharti's misuse of his position as a bank chairman.
Bank records tampered to retain interest
Bharti and Prajapati were found guilty of tampering with bank records to keep getting high interest on a deposit made by Bharti's late mother.
The court said Bharti pushed for unauthorized payments to benefit his family trust, while Prajapati's initials popped up next to the altered documents.
The defense tried arguing that Bharti was protected as a public servant, but the judge wasn't convinced, pointing out that cheating and forgery aren't official duties.
Arguments on the quantum of sentence are set for Thursday, April 2, 2026.