Former Rajasthan MLA Baljeet Yadav has announced an indefinite hunger strike, alleging that the recovery of a mobile phone from his jail premises is a politically motivated conspiracy.
- Former RJP MLA Baljeet Yadav alleges a conspiracy regarding mobile phone recovery in Jaipur Central Jail.
- Yadav has threatened an indefinite hunger strike to protest the 'false' FIR.
- The defense claims the phone was found in a public toilet, not in his possession.
- Yadav is currently in custody regarding a ₹3.72 crore sports kit scam.
In a dramatic escalation of legal tensions, former Rashtriya Janata Party (RJP) legislator Baljeet Yadav, currently lodged in Jaipur Central Jail, has announced his intention to launch an indefinite hunger strike. The move follows an FIR registered on September 9, alleging that a mobile phone was recovered from his vicinity within the prison premises.
Yadav, representing the Behror constituency in Alwar district, has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them a 'political conspiracy' designed to tarnish his reputation. In a formal letter addressed to the Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP), his spokesperson, Sandeep Kumar Yadav, has demanded an impartial investigation into the incident.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this incident highlights the volatile intersection of criminal investigation and political maneuvering. The demand for CCTV footage scrutiny is a critical legal step that could either vindicate the prison administration's crackdown on contraband or expose significant procedural lapses.
'The integrity of the prison administration hinges on the transparency of the CCTV evidence in this mobile recovery case.'
According to the legal defense presented in the letter, the mobile phone was not recovered from Yadav himself. Instead, it was reportedly found abandoned in a public toilet located in the lane behind Barrack No. 5. Furthermore, Yadav's team claims that at the time of the alleged recovery, the former MLA was in the jail hospital undergoing routine medical checks for blood pressure and sugar levels.
The background of Yadav's incarceration is rooted in a significant corruption probe. He is accused of involvement in a scam exceeding ₹3.72 crore involving the MLA Local Area Development Fund. The case pertains to the 2021 procurement of cricket and badminton kits for 32 government schools in Behror, where equipment was allegedly purchased at inflated prices, causing a massive loss to the state exchequer.
The investigation has seen multiple layers of involvement, starting with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in December 2024, and later escalating to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Yadav was arrested by the ED on February 3, 2024, and subsequently sent to judicial custody by a special court in Jaipur.
Responding to the allegations, Jail Director General Ashok Rathore dismissed the claims of conspiracy. He maintained that the FIR is based on documented facts and that the administration's sole objective is to keep prisons free from prohibited items. He stated that the investigation would follow standard legal protocols, leading to either a charge sheet or a final report.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the primary allegation against Baljeet Yadav?
He is accused of embezzling funds through inflated sports kit purchases for government schools.
2. What is Yadav's defense regarding the mobile phone?
He claims the phone was found in a public toilet near his barrack and that he was in the hospital during the incident.