Jaipur: Rajasthan Police have found alleged discrepancies between Independent candidate Naresh Meena's nomination affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and his actual criminal record. A police official stated that since 2002, 25 cases have been filed against Meena; however, his affidavit reported only 15 FIRs and one conviction.
When contacted, ADG (Law and Order) Vishal Basnal said these inconsistencies are under examination. "After investigation, if it is established he lied on purpose in his affidavit, appropriate action will be taken against him," Bansal said.
According to police records, Meena has 25 criminal cases registered against him in multiple districts, including Jaipur and Baran. In some of these cases, the matter is pending in court, while in others cases, the investigation was completed but his arrest is pending.
Meena, who filed his nomination for the Deoli-Uniara bypoll as a rebel candidate after being denied the Congress ticket twice, including during the 2023 assembly elections, has a long history of criminal cases. Last year, too, he contested as an independent candidate from Chhabra in Baran district.
A native of Baran district, Meena is a former general secretary of Rajasthan University's student union. He was involved in several assaults on govt employees, with a similar case filed against him in Baran last year. The additional SP filed an FIR against Meena at the Kotwali police station in Baran, in which several police personnel were injured, and he is wanted in connection with this case. In addition, another case was filed against him in Baran last year for creating a ruckus during the assembly elections.
DIG (Ajmer) Om Prakash confirmed that there are arrest warrants pending against Meena. The police records show that Meena was charged with several serious offences, including vandalism of private property, obstruction of govt workers, serious assault, damage to public property, gambling, stone pelting, theft, inciting riots, public disturbance, and blocking highways. As a student leader at Rajasthan University, Meena was also involved in two cases filed in 2004 at the Gandhi Nagar police station in Jaipur, which were related to obstruction of govt work and assault.
Police also said Meena is known for his propensity for confronting police personnel and administration officials.