The Delhi High Court dismisses a plea by disqualified Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti seeking a stay of his conviction and three-year prison sentence in a cheating and bank-fraud case. The lower court had sentenced him to three years after finding him guilty under relevant criminal provisions in connection with forged or manipulated bank records tied to withdrawal of interest payments. The case began in Madhya Pradesh and was later transferred to Delhi for trial.
Following the conviction, Bharti becomes disqualified under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which provides for disqualification when an elected representative receives a sentence of two years or more. Because the High Court refuses to suspend his sentence, his disqualification continues for now, and any immediate relief that might have affected his status as an MLA is not granted.
The High Court’s order leaves Bharti with the option to seek further legal remedies, including approaching the Supreme Court. With the High Court’s decision, the legal challenge to the conviction and the political consequences of disqualification remain unresolved for the time being.
