An independent legislator from Rajasthan has come out strongly against bribery accusations, labeling a viral video as a distorted piece of media. Ritu Banawat, the MLA from Bayana, held a press conference on Monday to categorically reject the allegations, stating the footage was selectively edited and presented without crucial context.
MLA's Defense: Omitted Conversations and Consistent Refusal
Banawat asserted that the video, which is circulating in the media, deliberately left out portions where the individual named Manish Mathur was persistently insisting on taking money for projects. She clarified that her entire conversation, as captured, was solely about the status of development works under the MLA Local Area Development (LAD) Fund.
"If the video is watched carefully, my husband is only discussing projects under the MLA LAD Fund. There is no mention of money anywhere," the MLA stated. She provided a timeline, noting that Mathur first met her at her Jaipur residence on December 10 and then again in Bayana on December 12. Banawat maintained she had been refusing his demands for the past six months.
To counter the financial implication, she declared, "I can prove that the entire ₹5 crore allocated under the MLA LAD Fund was already sanctioned, and there is no amount left for this financial year."
Welcoming the Probe and Threatening Legal Action
Ritu Banawat expressed satisfaction with the state government's decision to order an investigation into the matter. She said she has full faith in the inquiry process initiated by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who has constituted a high-level committee. She also noted that Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has referred the issue to the Ethics Committee of the House.
"The truth will come out," Banawat affirmed. Simultaneously, she announced her intention to initiate legal action against Manish Mathur for falsely implicating her in the case. However, she declined to comment on similar allegations involving BJP MLA from Khimsar, Revant Ram Danga, and Congress MLA from Hinduan, Anita Jatav.
Status of Other Accused MLAs and Next Steps
While Banawat has publicly defended herself, the other two MLAs named in the scandal have taken different approaches. Sources indicate that BJP's Revant Ram Danga has contacted senior party leaders to explain his position but has received no assurances yet. He has reportedly been asked to wait for the inquiry's outcome.
On the other hand, Congress's Anita Jatav has not yet responded publicly to the allegations. Repeated attempts to reach her for comment were unsuccessful as her phone remained unanswered.
The investigation is set to move forward swiftly. The four-member high-level committee formed by the Rajasthan government is likely to take up the matter. It is expected that all three MLAs will be summoned to record their statements as part of the official probe, which aims to unravel the facts behind the controversial sting operation.
