Thane: The Additional Sessions Judge of the Thane court on April 15th, has rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by former MLA and MP of Uttar Pradesh, Hari Narayan Rajbhar, in an alleged cheating case filed against him by Devendra Singh, who runs an NGO named Ashray.
The complaint was filed after two men, who identified themselves as Rajbhar’s associates, allegedly took Rs 3 crore from Devendra on the pretext of arranging a meeting with the Chairman of MSME, Government of India, and requesting him to appoint the informant as Chairman of MSME, Maharashtra, further making forged appointment letters and also fake identification cards.
In its order, the court stated: “From the perusal of the record, it reveals that the accused was working as Chairman of MSME EPC. He had issued an appointment letter and identity card to the informant as the State Chairman of MSME EPC for Maharashtra. From the prosecution’s say, it appears that the applicant issued similar appointment letters to 10 other persons, two of whom have lodged complaints at their respective police stations. Investigation is required to determine why such appointment letters were issued, whether the applicant received any money from the amount paid to the co-accused, and whether the applicant had the authority to appoint a State Chairman or use the emblem of the Government of India on his letterhead. The allegations against the applicant are serious. The defense that the applicant has been falsely implicated and was unaware of the financial transaction between the informant and co-accused cannot be accepted at this stage. A prima facie case of the applicant’s involvement is made out.”
The advocate appearing on behalf of the accused argued that Rajbhar has been falsely implicated in the case. He pointed out a significant delay in the lodging of the FIR and claimed that the accused had no connection with the alleged Rs 3 crore payment made to the co-accused. According to the defense, Rajbhar had issued the appointment letter and identity card to the informant in his capacity as Chairman of MSME EPC on 09.09.2020.
However, after discovering a fraud committed by Chairman D.S. Rawat and others, Rajbhar resigned from his position on 14.10.2020. The defense maintained that nothing was to be recovered from Rajbhar and custodial interrogation was unnecessary, as he had cooperated with the investigating officer in accordance with the interim anticipatory bail order.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail plea, stating that co-accused Rajesh Upadhyay and Pravin Sinh had assured the informant they could arrange a meeting with the Chairman of MSME, Government of India, and request him to appoint the informant as Chairman of MSME, Maharashtra.
“In August 2020, the co-accused—Pravin Sinh, Rajesh Upadhyay—and the informant went to Delhi, where they met another co-accused, Rajesh Tripathi, and proposed the informant’s name for the post. Rajesh Tripathi allegedly demanded Rs 3 crore for the appointment. Believing them, the complainant arranged the amount and handed it over to Pravin, Ashish, and Rajesh Upadhyay,” the prosecution said.
Subsequently, on 09.11.2020, Rajesh Tripathi allegedly took the group to Rajbhar’s residence, where Rajbhar handed over an appointment letter to the complainant and asked him to report to the Maharashtra Secretariat within 25–30 days.
Ten days later, co-accused Rajesh Upadhyay and Pravin Sinh allegedly gave the informant an ID card identifying him as the Chairman of MSME Maharashtra, featuring the Government of India logo. Later, the complainant learned from Dr. Aditya Patakrao of Pune that the MSME ID card and appointment order were forged, and he had been cheated. A complaint was subsequently lodged, and a criminal case was registered in 2025 against the accused.
In recent years, Rajbhar has faced multiple legal challenges. A special MP/MLA court in Bulandshahr district has issued several non-bailable warrants against him in connection with a cheating case involving an alleged fraud of Rs 30 lakh. The court has sought assistance from the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, and the Commissioner of Delhi Police to trace and present him before the court.
