Jaipur, January 14, 2026: Former Rajasthan minister Mahendrajeet Malviya has alleged political motives behind the recent raids conducted by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at his business premises, a day after he quit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and rejoined the Opposition Congress.

On Wednesday, the ACB’s Banswara unit conducted searches at three locations associated with Malviya, including two petrol pumps and a crusher plant. According to officials, the searches were initiated in connection with alleged irregularities, though no formal case has yet been registered. “Our team spoke to some of the staff of the two petrol pumps and collected some documents and relevant information for further investigation,” an ACB official said.

Malviya Denies Allegations

Malviya, a four-time assembly member from Bagidora and a former parliamentarian, strongly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the raids were linked to his political realignment. “I am innocent… there are no irregularities in my petrol pumps and crusher plant. Hence, I returned [to Banswara] immediately so that they would not think I was fleeing. The ACB officials did not ask me a single question,” he told reporters. He further alleged that the searches were an attempt to exert pressure following his departure from the BJP.

The former minister joined Congress on Sunday, citing that he had been feeling “suffocated” within the ruling party. Malviya initially switched to the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He had contested from Banswara in the general election but lost to Bharat Adivasi Party’s Rajkumar Roat.

Political Reactions

Congress leaders have accused the BJP of misusing state machinery to intimidate politicians who defect from the party. Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi described the raids as “the BJP’s usual tactic of threatening politicians by misusing agencies. Malviya exposed the BJP to the public, and therefore they sent the ACB.”

Malviya previously served as a minister in the Congress-led Rajasthan government from 2021 to 2023. He retained his Bagidora assembly seat in the 2023 state elections before resigning and joining the BJP in February 2024. His return to Congress marks a significant political development in the tribal-dominated Banswara district, which has traditionally been a key constituency for both parties.

Background and Context

The timing of the raids, coming immediately after Malviya’s announcement of his return to Congress, has sparked speculation about political motivations behind the ACB’s actions. Observers note that such searches are not uncommon in Rajasthan’s political landscape, particularly during periods of party realignments, but Malviya’s supporters see the move as an attempt to create a perception of wrongdoing and undermine his credibility.

As of now, no charges have been filed, and the ACB has clarified that the activity was limited to document collection and verification. Malviya’s camp has promised to cooperate fully with authorities while maintaining that all his businesses have operated within legal parameters.

With the political temperature rising in Banswara and surrounding tribal regions, Malviya’s return to Congress and the subsequent raids could have implications for upcoming local body elections, as well as for party strategies ahead of the 2027 state assembly polls.

The developments underscore the intersection of politics and investigative agencies in Rajasthan, a state that has witnessed frequent party-switching and realignments in recent years. Malviya’s statements suggest that the ongoing investigation may remain in the public eye as a focal point of political discourse in the coming weeks.