Rajasthan, August 6, 2023: In a late-night order, the Rajasthan government suspended Jaipur Heritage Municipal Corporation Mayor Munesh Gurjar, following her husband Sushil Gurjar’s arrest by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Sushil Gurjar was apprehended for allegedly accepting a ₹2 lakh bribe in exchange for issuing a land lease. The Mayor’s civic body seat in Ward Number 43 has also been suspended.
The arrest took place at the Mayor’s residence, with ₹40 lakh recovered in cash from the premises. The government believes that the Mayor’s presence during the bribery incident raises suspicions of her involvement and potential influence over the investigation. The ACB also arrested two accomplices, Narayan Singh and Anil Dubey, who will be questioned over the next two days. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been filed, and further investigations are underway.
According to a complaint, Sushil Gurjar and his aides demanded the bribe to expedite the approval of a lease application for a plot. Based on this information, officials set up a trap and arrested them.
The incident comes as a major embarrassment for the Congress party, particularly in the aftermath of the “Red Diary” row, complicating matters ahead of the upcoming elections. The BJP has seized the opportunity to criticize the Congress government, accusing it of corruption and dishonesty.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, however, defended the government’s actions, emphasizing that the ACB’s arrest of the mayor’s husband demonstrates the government’s commitment to combatting corruption. He highlighted previous instances of arrests of corrupt officials, showcasing the government’s dedication to maintaining transparency and accountability.
Both the Mayor and another mayor from Greater Jaipur have faced corruption allegations against their husbands, further complicating the political landscape in the region.
