BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena Faces Disqualification After Rajasthan HC Upholds 3-Year Jail Sentence

BJP MLA from Anta, Rajasthan, Kanwarlal Meena's membership in the Legislative Assembly is at stake after the Rajasthan High Court upheld a three-year sentence awarded by the Jhalawar lower court in a nearly 20-year-old case.

Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, any elected representative sentenced to more than two years in prison is liable for disqualification. In this context, Meena may now lose his assembly membership.

The Additional District and Sessions (ADJ) Court in Aklera, Jhalawar, had sentenced Kanwarlal Meena to three years on December 14, 2020, after finding him guilty of obstructing government work, intimidating officials, and vandalizing property.

Meena had appealed the verdict in the Rajasthan High Court, which has now rejected his petition and upheld the original sentence.

In its order, the High Court remarked that at the time of the incident, the petitioner had identified himself as a political figure. Therefore, it was expected of him to cooperate in maintaining law and order rather than challenging it.

The High Court has directed MLA Kanwarlal Meena to surrender immediately before the trial court. Additionally, the court has instructed the trial court to issue a non-bailable warrant against him if he fails to comply.

The case dates back to 2005, when Meena allegedly pointed a pistol at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) who was conducting a repoll for the deputy sarpanch election.