Jaipur, Nov 4 (IANS) Former Rajasthan MLA, Baljeet Yadav, has received major relief ahead of Diwali after the Rajasthan High Court granted his second bail application in connection with an alleged ₹3.72 crore scam involving the misuse of MLA Local Area Development (LAD) funds.
Yadav, who was lodged in Jaipur Central Jail following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has been ordered to be released on bail by the High Court.
The order was passed by a single-judge Bench headed by Justice Ravi Chirania. Advocate Chitransh Saxena represented Yadav in the proceedings.
The case relates to alleged financial irregularities in the purchase of sports equipment for 32 government schools in the Behror Assembly constituency.
According to the allegations, funds allocated under the MLA LAD scheme were misused during the procurement of sports equipment, including badminton and cricket kits.
Investigating agencies have alleged that the equipment was purchased at prices significantly higher than the prescribed rates, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately ₹3.72 crore to the state exchequer.
The investigation has also brought the roles of certain private firm operators and employees associated with the Education Department under scrutiny.
The agencies are examining the alleged irregularities in the procurement process and the suspected movement of funds linked to the purchases.
The matter dates back to December 12, 2024, when the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered a corruption case against Baljeet Yadav over the alleged irregularities in the utilisation of MLA development funds.
Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate initiated an investigation into the suspected money laundering angle of the case. After investigating the alleged financial irregularities, the ED arrested Yadav on February 3, 2026.
Following the completion of his remand period, he was produced before a special court in Jaipur on February 7 and subsequently sent to judicial custody.
He had remained lodged in Jaipur Central Jail since then. Yadav’s second bail application has now been accepted by the Rajasthan High Court, providing him relief after several months in judicial custody.
The bail order comes ahead of Diwali and is a significant development in the high-profile case involving alleged misuse of public funds.
However, the investigation and legal proceedings concerning the alleged irregularities remain subject to the applicable judicial process. The allegations against Yadav have not been established as guilt by a court.
–IANS
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