Rajasthan Heritage Mayor Suspended After ACB Arrests Husband In Bribery Case

A search of Gurjar's residence later resulted in the seizure of Rs 40 lakh in cash and the lease paperwork. Officials also alleged that Rs 8 lakh in cash was confiscated from Narayan Singh's home.

Jaipur Heritage Municipal Corporation Mayor Munesh Gurjar.

Source : Twitter/@MuneshGurjarINC

The Rajasthan government has suspended Munesh Gurjar, Mayor of the Jaipur Heritage Municipal Corporation, following her husband's arrest in a bribery case involving the granting of land titles, which she has described as a "political conspiracy against her and her family," news agency PTI reported. The directive was issued by the state's local self-government department late Saturday night. The Jaipur Heritage Municipal Corporation has a Congress board.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau detained the mayor's spouse, Sushil Gurjar, and two suspected middlemen, Narayan Singh and Anil Dubey, on Friday night for allegedly accepting a payment of Rs 2 lakh in exchange for giving a property lease.

A search of Gurjar's residence later resulted in the seizure of Rs 40 lakh in cash and the lease paperwork. Officials also alleged that Rs 8 lakh in cash was confiscated from Narayan Singh's home.

Local Self Government Department Director and Special Secretary Hridesh Kumar Sharma stated in the suspension decision that the mayor is suspended from her job till the inquiry is completed since her prima facie participation in the matter is suspected.

Speaking with media, Mayor Munesh Gurjar said: “It is a political conspiracy against me and my family. Those who have done conspiracy will be trapped one or other day. I have full faith in judiciary.” 

State Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas met with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday night and again on Sunday stated: “This decision of the Rajasthan government is a welcome step. Any person who commits corruption, similar strict action should be taken against him. Both of them (the mayor and her husband) did not think about the image of the party and its leader. There can be no greater sin."

“I want the recording done by the ACB to be made public. So that the general public also knows how these people were indulging in corruption.” “We made a Congress mayor for the welfare of the people not for corruption and theft,” he was quoted by PTI in its report.

Rafiq Khan, Adarsh Nagar Congress MLA, stated that the Rajasthan government is implementing a zero tolerance policy for corruption. 

“Within 24 hours, the government has suspended the mayor. It is clear from this that whoever indulges in corruption in Rajasthan will face strictest action no matter how big he is,” he said.