Rajasthan Government Suspends Mayor Amid Corruption Charges

The Rajasthan government has suspended Jaipur Heritage Municipal Corporation Mayor Munesh Gurjar due to corruption charges. A judicial inquiry has been ordered. Gurjar, a Congress councillor, allegedly took bribes through her husband. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation confirmed the allegations, leading to her suspension.

The Rajasthan government on Monday suspended Jaipur Heritage Municipal Corporation's Mayor Munesh Gurjar, who is facing corruption charges, and ordered a judicial inquiry against her.

Urban Development Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra announced that Gurjar was suspended both as mayor and from her position as ward councillor by the local self-government department.

Gurjar, affiliated with the Congress party, is accused of taking bribes through her husband by delaying land leases unnecessarily. This allegation was corroborated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the department's inquiry, according to Kharra.

After gathering substantial evidence and allowing Gurjar time to respond, the government decided to suspend her. A judicial inquiry will also be conducted.

Kharra stated that an acting mayor would be appointed by Tuesday evening with consultations from the BJP state president, party MPs, MLAs, and councillors. The acting mayor will be selected from among the BJP councillors.

Last year, the ACB raided Gurjar's residence, leading to the arrest of her husband Sushil Gurjar and two brokers for accepting a Rs 2 lakh bribe. The raid also recovered lease-related documents, Rs 41 lakh from Sushil Gurjar's home, and Rs 8.95 lakh from a broker's residence.

The ACB's investigation confirmed the bribery allegations against Mayor Gurjar. Following the raid, she was initially suspended by the Congress government but later got relief from the high court. With the ACB's findings, a prosecution sanction to file charges against her was recently granted by the state government.

(With inputs from agencies.)