Delhi High Court Upholds Conviction of Former Congress MLA
In a notable ruling, the Delhi High Court has declined to suspend the conviction of Rajendra Bharti, a former MLA from the Indian National Congress, in a case involving cooperative bank fraud. The decision was delivered by Justice Manoj Jain on Friday, reinforcing the April 2026 conviction by the Rouse Avenue Court pertaining to charges of cheating and embezzlement.
Background of the Fraud Case
The allegations against Bharti concern a ₹10 lakh fixed deposit made in 1998 at Zila Sahkari Krishi Gramin Vikas Bank under the guise of a trust, Shri Shyam Sunder Shyam Jan Sahyog Evam Samajik Vikas Sansthan, with which Bharti was linked as a trustee. The deposit, initially meant for three years, was falsely extended first to 10 years and then to 15 years through manipulated bank records. This deception allowed the trust to accrue annual interest of about ₹1.35 lakh well beyond the deposit’s original term, inflicting financial losses on the bank until 2011.
Court’s Findings and Bharti’s Position
The Rouse Avenue Court, in its previous judgment, found Bharti guilty of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery. The court pointed out that Bharti, during the time of the offenses, was both a trustee of the implicated trust and the chairperson of the cooperative bank where the illegal activities occurred. The court dismissed Bharti’s claims of political vendetta, citing substantial documentary evidence that highlighted events dating back to 1998, well before the alleged political conflicts.
Appeal to the Delhi High Court
Bharti approached the High Court seeking a stay on his conviction, arguing that the conviction barred him from participating in the upcoming by-election for the Datia Assembly constituency. While the High Court has suspended Bharti’s three-year sentence during the appeal process, it refused to stay the conviction itself. Justice Jain, in announcing the decision, remarked in court, “We will try to upload judgment on the court website in an hour or so. Unfortunately for you, we are dismissing it.”
This ruling stands as a significant development in the legal proceedings against Bharti, reaffirming the initial findings of corruption and conspiracy in the management of the cooperative bank’s fixed deposits.
