Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has ordered a high-level probe into allegations that three sitting MLAs from different parties demanded bribes to clear development works under the MLA Local Area Development (MLA LAD) fund. The controversy has triggered parallel internal inquiries by both the BJP and the Congress, even as all three legislators deny wrongdoing and call the accusations politically motivated.
Allegations from sting report
The present storm began after a media ‘sting’ report claimed that three Rajasthan MLAs had allegedly agreed to accept commissions in exchange for recommending or releasing LAD‑funded projects in their constituencies. According to the report, those named are BJP MLA Rewant Ram Danga from Khinsvar in Nagaur, Congress MLA Anita Jatav from Hindaun in Karauli, and Independent MLA Ritu Banawat from Bayana in Bharatpur. All three are first‑time legislators and, as per the report, were allegedly willing to take money to facilitate works from their MLA LAD fund, under which each MLA in Rajasthan gets around Rs 5 crore annually for local projects.
The story has sparked public outrage because MLA LAD funds are meant to be used for basic community infrastructure such as roads, schools, water supply and health facilities. Any perception that elected representatives are demanding commissions to release this money directly undercuts the scheme’s intent and raises concerns about leakages in grassroots development spending.
CM orders high-level inquiry and freezes MLA LAD accounts
Reacting to the report, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma described the allegations of corruption in the MLA Local Area Development Fund as “extremely serious and concerning” and reiterated that his government follows a policy of zero tolerance against corruption by any public servant. He announced that a high‑level inquiry will be conducted under the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, through a committee chaired by the State Chief Vigilance Commissioner, who is also the Additional Chief Secretary (Home).
The Chief Minister further ordered that the MLA LAD accounts of the three concerned constituencies be frozen pending the outcome of the probe. Implementation and payment processes for all works recommended or approved by the three MLAs have been put on hold, effectively pausing fresh spending under their funds until the committee submits its report. A four‑member panel headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Bhaskar A Sawant has been asked to examine the matter in detail and present its findings to the Chief Secretary within 15 days, after which further action is expected.
Opposition reaction and demand for stricter scrutiny
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot termed the allegations “extremely serious and concerning” and urged the government to ensure that the inquiry is independent, time‑bound and transparent. He called on CM Sharma and Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani to immediately take cognisance of the matter and order a thorough probe, arguing that integrity and honesty in public life must be paramount for all elected representatives.
Within the parties concerned, the charges have prompted internal discussions on ethics and the need for stronger oversight of MLAs’ discretionary funds. Both BJP and Congress leaders have indicated they will conduct their own fact‑finding exercises to determine whether code of conduct violations occurred and what disciplinary measures may be warranted if the allegations are substantiated. For the Independent MLA, the controversy could affect future political alignments and local credibility, making the inquiry’s outcome particularly crucial.
MLA LAD fund and accountability questions
The MLA Local Area Development fund is designed to give legislators flexibility to address urgent local needs that may not fit neatly into larger departmental schemes. However, governance experts have repeatedly flagged the risk of misuse, citing weak transparency norms, limited social audits and the scope for informal negotiations between contractors and public representatives. The current case from Rajasthan reinforces the argument that without robust checks and clear disclosure of project details, discretion can slip into rent‑seeking or favouritism. For in-depth detail read here.
Anti‑corruption activists point out that freezing MLA LAD accounts and announcing inquiries are important first steps, but lasting reform will require systemic safeguards. These could include online dashboards listing all sanctioned works, third‑party verification of project completion, tighter procurement rules, and mandatory public hearings at the constituency level. Strengthening vigilance mechanisms and empowering independent institutions to scrutinise MLA LAD spending can help restore public confidence in the scheme.
EEAT angle and responsible reporting
From an EEAT perspective, coverage of this controversy should rely on clearly attributed information from official statements by the Chief Minister, the state government’s notification on the inquiry, and the original media report that carried the sting allegations. The article should avoid treating unproven accusations as established fact, instead using terms like “alleged” and “report claims” until the inquiry concludes. Including responses from the accused MLAs, views from legal and governance experts, and context on how MLA LAD funds work will demonstrate fairness, domain knowledge and a commitment to accuracy.
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