The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Madhya Pradesh government and the Election Commission of India following petitions filed by Congress leader Rajendra Bharti, who was convicted in a Rural Development Bank fraud case. Bharti was denied interim relief by the court at this stage. The court has requested the Madhya Pradesh government’s response to Bharti’s plea challenging his conviction and three-year sentence by a Special MP-MLA court on April 1.
The High Court also issued notice on Bharti’s separate petition seeking a stay on his conviction and sentence but refrained from immediate action in his favor. Additionally, the court has issued notice on Bharti’s plea requesting the ECI not to announce the election schedule for the Datia Assembly constituency, which became vacant after his disqualification post-conviction. However, the court did not halt the election process or prevent the poll panel from proceeding.
The case is scheduled for further hearing on April 15, during which the court will review the responses from the authorities and decide on interim relief, if any. Bharti approached the High Court urgently, arguing that the election schedule announcement would harm his political career irreparably while his appeal against conviction is pending.
On April 1, a Special MP-MLA court in Delhi convicted Bharti in the Rural Development Bank fraud case and sentenced him to three years in prison. Despite the conviction, Bharti was granted bail by the trial court, allowing him to remain out of custody while pursuing legal remedies. His disqualification as an MLA due to the conviction led to the vacancy of the Datia Assembly seat, potentially triggering a bypoll.
