BJP Leader Rajendra Singh Yadav’s Sons Named in ₹2,000 Crore Mid-Day Meal Scam

Jaipur, Rajasthan: A massive scam in Rajasthan’s government mid-day meal program, worth over ₹2,000 crore, has sent shockwaves across the state’s political landscape. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against 21 individuals, including the two sons of BJP leader Rajendra Singh Yadav. Investigations into the scam are ongoing.

The Allegations

The case alleges that Madhur Yadav and Tribhuvan Yadav, sons of Rajendra Singh Yadav, colluded with officials of the Confed department to embezzle crores of rupees intended for the scheme, which provides meals to schoolchildren in Rajasthan’s government schools.

About Rajendra Singh Yadav

Rajendra Singh Yadav, 66, originally hails from Kichha village, Nainital, Uttarakhand. He completed his schooling and higher education in Nainital, coming from a business family. About 20 years ago, he moved to Kotputli near Jaipur, where he began his political career.

Yadav initially contested elections with the Congress party, losing the 2008 Kotputli assembly election by just 893 votes. He later won the 2013 assembly election by 24,687 votes and the 2018 election by 13,876 votes, before narrowly losing in 2023 by 321 votes.

Political Career and Ministerial Posts

A close aide of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajendra Singh Yadav served as a cabinet minister, holding portfolios including Motor Garage, Language, Disaster Management, Higher Education, and Home State Ministry. He has also served as the in-charge minister for Banswara, Dungarpur, and Nagaur.

Previous Controversies

Three years ago, discrepancies worth crores of rupees were detected in the mid-day meal scheme. During income tax raids at over a dozen locations in Kotputli and Uttarakhand, authorities recovered ₹2.90 crore in cash and uncovered ₹110 crore of undisclosed income. Rajendra Singh Yadav’s sons had surrendered around ₹17 crore following the raids.

Switch from Congress to BJP

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rajendra Singh Yadav joined the BJP, leaving Congress. Reports suggested the move was influenced by the pressure from central agencies. Despite joining BJP, no reprieve has been granted, and the ACB may proceed with arrests of his sons in connection with the ongoing mid-day meal scam.