The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has detained former Behror MLA Baljeet Yadav for allegedly misusing MLA Local Area Development (LAD) funds worth Rs 3.72 crore. Yadav was apprehended near the Shahjahanpur toll plaza on the Delhi–Jaipur highway and formally arrested after extensive questioning by the Jaipur regional unit of the ED.
Baljeet Yadav, a prominent figure in Rajasthan politics, is known for his unconventional protests. He previously positioned himself as an anti-corruption activist and garnered attention by engaging in prolonged runs at Jaipur’s Central Park to highlight youth welfare and corruption issues.
The ED’s investigation pertains to the fiscal year 2021–22 when Rs 3.72 crore from the MLA fund was allocated for the procurement of badminton and cricket kits for 32 government schools in the Bahror Assembly constituency. Allegations suggest significant irregularities in the scheme’s implementation, including the fabrication of bills and documents for sports kit purchases.
The agency suspects that the funds were embezzled and laundered through various transactions, with payments made to contractors without the kits reaching the intended schools. The ED’s probe, initiated based on an FIR by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), has collected substantial evidence indicating money laundering activities.
