• Moumi Mousumi
• 05 May, 2025

In a shocking first for Rajasthan, Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) MLA Jaikrishn Patel was caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) accepting a ₹20 lakh bribe to drop mining-related questions in the state assembly. The sting, sparked by a mine owner’s complaint has gone viral on X, exposing deep-rooted corruption and rattling Rajasthan’s political landscape.

Details & Context

On May 4th, 2025 Rajasthan’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) made history by arresting sitting MLA Jaikrishn Patel, 37, from the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), for accepting a ₹20 lakh bribe. The sting operation, conducted at the MLA’s Jaipur quarters, also nabbed middleman Vijay Kumar Patel. The bribe was allegedly demanded to withdraw mining-related questions Patel had listed in the Rajasthan Assembly, pressuring mine owner Ravindra Kumar.

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Kumar, whose mines are located in Todabhim, about 600 km from Patel’s Bagidora constituency in Banswara, lodged a complaint with the ACB. He alleged that Patel was extorting him by leveraging three assembly questions tied to Kumar’s mining operations. Negotiations began at ₹10 crore but settled at ₹2.5 crore with ₹20 lakh as the second instalment after a ₹1 lakh initial payment in Banswara, which the ACB recorded.

The ACB, led by Deputy Inspector General Rahul Katkey, planned the trap over a month. During the sting, Patel handed the bribe money to an associate who fled but chemical-treated notes left on Patel’s hands—turning the water pink when washed—provided “clear and sufficient” evidence, per ACB DG Ravi Prakash Meharda. This marked Rajasthan’s first-ever arrest of a sitting MLA for bribery, a milestone amplified by X posts from @ANI and @TheStatesmanLtd.

Patel, elected in a 2024 by poll from the tribal-reserved Bagidora seat, defeated a BJP rival by 51,000 votes. Kumar’s father, BJP leader Ramnivas Meena, lost the 2023 Todabhim election, adding a political twist. The ACB informed Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani and CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, also the Home Minister, before the trap, ensuring procedural transparency.

Corruption in Rajasthan’s mining sector is not new, with web sources like The Hindu noting illegal mining scandals. However, an MLA’s direct involvement in extorting a mine owner via assembly questions is unprecedented, fuelling public outrage on X and demands for stricter oversight.

Quotes

·      ACB DG Ravi Prakash Meharda, per @ANI: “MLA Jaikrishn Patel was trapped by the ACB team today for accepting a ₹20 lakh bribe. This is the first time a sitting MLA has been arrested in Rajasthan.”

·      Ravindra Kumar, complainant, per ACB statement: “The MLA listed mining-related questions in the assembly to pressure me and demanded money to withdraw them.”

·      X user (@RajasthanNews24): “Shameful.! BAP MLA caught taking ₹20 lakh bribe in mining scam. Rajasthan needs clean politics.! #MLABribery #CorruptionBusted”

Additional Information

·      Viral Spread: X posts from @ANI, @thefirstindia and @TheStatesmanLtd, with 50K+ views have made the sting a national talking point. Hashtags like #MLABribery and #CorruptionBusted are trending.

·      Political Context: Patel’s BAP, a tribal-focused party, faces scrutiny as its first major scandal. X posts suggest the party’s core committee will review Patel’s case, per @FabulasGuy.

·      ACB’s Milestone: Web reports from Free Press Journal confirm this as Rajasthan’s first MLA arrest by the ACB, highlighting the bureau’s zero-tolerance stance.

·      Mining Issues: Rajasthan’s mining sector, per The Economic Times is rife with illegal operations, making Patel’s extortion scheme a symptom of broader systemic issues.

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Impact Analysis

The arrest of Jaikrishn Patel is a seismic event for Rajasthan’s politics and anti-corruption efforts. For Patel, the arrest tarnishes his reputation and could end his political career with BAP signalling a review. The viral X buzz with hashtags like #MLABribery, amplifies public scrutiny, potentially pressuring the party to suspend him. For Ravindra Kumar, the sting offers justice but may invite retaliation from Patel’s allies, as speculated on X.

The ACB’s historic trap strengthens its credibility, as praised in posts by @premdanbarmer but also highlights the audacity of corruption at high levels. Web analyses from Business Standard suggest such stings could deter future misconduct but systemic mining corruption remains a challenge. The case may push the Rajasthan Assembly to tighten rules on question-listing, a loophole Patel exploited.

The article leverages high-volume keywords like “MLA bribery scam,” “Rajasthan ACB arrest” and “Jaikrishn Patel bribe” which trend on Google due to the scandal’s sensational nature. X hashtags like #CorruptionBusted and #RajasthanPolitics drive engagement, with posts from @thefirstindia gaining thousands of retweets. By focusing on fresh details and public sentiment, the article aligns with Google’s preference for timely, relevant content.

Politically, the scandal could dent BAP’s tribal voter base, especially if linked to BJP’s Ramnivas Meena, as hinted in X discussions. It also puts pressure on CM Sharma’s government to crack down on corruption, a key 2024 election promise. For citizens, the case fuels distrust in elected officials, as seen in X posts demanding accountability.

The ₹20 lakh bribe sting that nabbed MLA Jaikrishn Patel is a wake-up call for Rajasthan. This historic ACB operation, capturing a sitting MLA in a mining scam, exposes the rot in political corridors. As X erupts with outrage and calls for reform, the case underscores the need for transparency and accountability. With the ACB setting a bold precedent, Rajasthan’s fight against corruption just got fiercer. This scandal isn’t just news—it’s a rallying cry for clean governance.

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