MLA Fund Scam: Court Grants ED 3-Day Remand of Baljeet Yadav

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday secured a three-day custody of former independent MLA from Behror, Baljeet Yadav, in connection with a money laundering investigation involving the alleged misappropriation of Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development (MLA LAD) funds. Judge Khagendra Kumar Sharma of the Special CBI Court No. 3 in Jaipur passed the order after a marathon hearing lasting nearly five hours. The agency had initially sought a six-day remand to facilitate further interrogation.

Arrest Details and Judicial Proceedings

Baljeet Yadav was apprehended by ED officials late Tuesday night at the Shahjahanpur toll plaza on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, while following his arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), he was brought to the ED's regional office in Jaipur for questioning. On Wednesday, the agency presented him in court, asserting that his custodial interrogation was essential due to non-cooperation during the preliminary investigation. The court, after hearing arguments from both sides, remanded him to ED custody until February 7.

Allegations of Embezzlement and Fraudulent Procurement

The core of the investigation pertains to the procurement of sports equipment for 32 government schools in the Behror constituency during the 2021-22 fiscal year. 72 crore was allocated from the MLA LAD fund for the purchase of badminton and cricket kits. The probe suggests that a significant portion of these funds was siphoned off through shell companies and fake billing. In several instances, payments were allegedly released without the actual delivery of goods, or for items of vastly inferior quality compared to the sanctioned specifications.

Defense Arguments and Claims of Political Vendetta

Representing the former legislator, advocate Bhanu Prakash Sharma challenged the legality of the arrest, labeling it as politically motivated. The defense argued that the procurement process was the responsibility of the Panchayat Samiti and that the MLA had no direct involvement in the tendering or payment procedures. Plus, the defense highlighted a pre-existing property dispute between Yadav and the owner of the firm under investigation. Yadav himself alleged that he was being targeted by political rivals within the current administration to stifle his influence in the region.

Previous Investigations and Enforcement Actions

The ED's intervention follows an earlier First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Rajasthan. In January 2025, the ED conducted extensive search operations at 10 locations across Jaipur, Dausa, and Behror linked to Yadav. These raids reportedly yielded incriminating documents and digital evidence related to financial transactions. The agency stated that despite multiple summons issued throughout 2025, the former MLA failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the flow of funds, necessitating his arrest.

Analysis of the Investigation Scope

According to legal analysts, the case highlights the increasing scrutiny of central agencies on the utilization of discretionary local development funds by public representatives. The investigation is expected to expand towards identifying the network of contractors and officials who facilitated the alleged fraudulent billing. The ED is likely to focus on the money trail to determine if the embezzled funds were integrated into legitimate assets. The next court hearing on February 7 will determine the further course of the judicial process.