The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted raids at the house of Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, a BJP leader and former minister, less than two days after he signalled his intention to return to the Opposition Congress, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra has alleged.
According to Congress sources, the ACB raids began at 9 am Tuesday, with teams scrutinising documents at three properties linked to Malviya.
A former Cabinet minister in the Ashok Gehlot government and an ex-MP from Rajasthan’s tribal seat of Banswara, Malviya had met Congress general secretary Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully at the Constitution Club in Jaipur.
On his part, Malviya refused to comment on the ACB raid. However, Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra confirmed the development, calling it a “disgrace to democracy” and an instance of “misusing agencies for political vendetta”.
“Malviya ji was feeling uncomfortable in the BJP. He wanted to return to his mother’s party (Congress), where he would receive respect,” he said. “Nothing is happening in the BJP except deceit, lies, and dishonesty.”
Calls and text messages to the Anti-Corruption Bureau went unanswered.
Signalling his intention to switch earlier this week, Malviya had cited his “inability to do work under the BJP government” as the reason for the move. “There is no one in the BJP government who listens to the poor. MGNREGA payments have been pending for months, and farmers are not getting fertilisers. I have written to the chief minister and the state president several times, but no solution has been found. Hence, I have accepted that only Congress can uplift the public in the tribal areas,” he had told the media.
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Dotasra, however, said the decision had been left to a disciplinary committee.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
