Roshi Bhadain

{{Short description|Mauritian politician (born 1971)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honorable

| name = Roshi Sudarshan Bhadain
रोशि बादें
MP{{Cite web |url=http://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/English/hmembers/Pages/Bhadain-Sudarshan.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-date=19 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219055947/http://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/English/hmembers/Pages/Bhadain-Sudarshan.aspx |url-status=dead }} GCSK {{Cite news|url=https://www.lemauricien.com/article/la-state-house-la-medaille-gcsk-remise-au-ministre-roshi-bhadain/|title=À LA STATE HOUSE : La médaille de GCSK remise au ministre Roshi Bhadain}}

| honorific-suffix =

| image = |

| order = Minister of Financial Services, Good Governance and Institutional Reforms

| president = Ameenah Gurib

| primeminister = Sir Anerood Jugnauth

| term_start = 22 December 2014

| term_end = 23 January 2017

| order1 = Member of Parliament (MP)

| president1 = Ameenah Gurib

| primeminister1 = Sir Anerood Jugnauth
Pravind Jugnauth

| term_start1 = 22 December 2014

| term_end1 = 16 June 2017

| order2 = Leader of Reform Party

| president2 =

| primeminister2 =

| term_start2 = 23 January 2017

| term_end2 =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|4|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Mauritius

| spouse =

| children = Rishon Bhadain, Rishna Bhadain

| party = Reform Party{{cite journal|last1=Bastien|first1=Estelle|title=Roshi Bhadain lance son parti politique, The Reform Party|journal=Lexpress.mu|date=27 January 2017|url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/298884/roshi-bhadain-lance-son-parti-politique-reform-party|access-date=5 February 2017|language=fr}} (present)

| website =

| occupation = Lawyer
Accountant
Investigator
Politician

| alma_mater = Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) (UK)

| religion =

| awards = Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (2016)

}}

(Roshi) Sudarshan Bhadain (GCSK) (born 25 April 1971) is a Mauritian politician.

Education and Professional career

Roshi Bhadain completed his secondary education at Royal College Curepipe before studying law at the University of West England,(also known as UWE Bristol). He also pursued studies in accountancy and worked for KPMG in England. Upon returning to Mauritius, he worked at the Economic Crime Office (ECO), which was later restructured into the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Mauritius). Since 2002, Bhadain has practiced as a Barrister-at-Law in Mauritius and has been a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant, specializing in fraud, financial crime, corruption, and money laundering.{{cite web |title=Roshi Bhadain : un homme propulsé rapidement au-devant de la scène |url=https://defimedia.info/roshi-bhadain-un-homme-propulse-rapidement-au-devant-de-la-scene |publisher=Le Défi |access-date=2017-06-23}}

Political career

In the National Assembly elections held on 10 December 2014, Roshi Bhadain was elected as a candidate of Alliance Lepep (MSM-PMSD-ML) in Constituency No. 18 (Belle Rose-Quatre Bornes){{cite web |title=Results of 2014 National Assembly Elections |url=http://electoral.govmu.org/English/electionresult/nasselec/Documents/2014/Const.%20No.%2018.pdf |publisher=Government of Mauritius |access-date=2020-07-27}} He served as the Minister of Financial Services, Good Governance, and Institutional Reforms under the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) government.{{cite web|title=Mauritius good governance law can inspire Commonwealth countries {{!}} The Commonwealth|url=http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/mauritius-good-governance-law-can-inspire-commonwealth-countries|website=thecommonwealth.org|date=5 February 2016}} On 23 January 2017, Bhadain resigned from the MSM-ML government, citing disagreements with the undue influence of vested interests on the government led by Pravind Jugnauth, which followed the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth.

After the 2014 elections, Roshi Bhadain, while serving as a minister, addressed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on public media and concurrently defended a prosecution commission bill.{{cite web |title=Bhadain qualifie le DPP de monstre |url=https://lexpress.mu/video/274581/sentinelle-2eme-partie-bhadain-qualifie-dpp-monstre}} Had the prosecution commission bill been enacted into law, it would have granted the administration greater power over the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), significantly affecting the democratic framework of Mauritius. To prevent this, the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD) resigned from the government by the end of 2016, which diminished the bill's chances of passing in the National Assembly.

Roshi Bhadain served as a back-bencher in the government for less than six months before resigning from Parliament on 16 June 2017. He stated that his resignation was due to disagreements with the safety and financial aspects of the Metro Express project.{{cite web |title=Démission comme ministre: quand Roshi Bhadain se souvient… |date=24 January 2018 |url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/325284/demission-comme-ministre-quand-roshi-bhadain-souvient |publisher=L'Express |access-date=2018-01-24}}{{cite web |title=Roshi Bhadain : les raisons d'une démission annoncée |url=https://defimedia.info/roshi-bhadain-les-raisons-dune-demission-annoncee |publisher=Defimedia |access-date=2017-06-16}} Roshi Bhadain's resignation triggered by-elections in Constituency No. 18, held on 17 December 2017.

In these by-elections, Arvin Boolell secured a seat in Parliament. Bhadain finished in third place with 2,913 votes, behind Arvin Boolell, who received 7,990 votes, and Nita Juddoo, who received 4,839 votes. Following Bhadain were trade unionist Jack Bizlall in fourth place, Dhanesh Maraye in fifth, Tania Diolle in sixth, and Kugan Parapen in seventh. Since 2017, Bhadain has been the leader of the Reform Party (Mauritius), which he founded after leaving the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM).{{cite web |title=Results of 2017 By-Elections No. 18 |url=http://electoral.govmu.org/English/Documents/NABE2017/result%20NABE2017.pdf |publisher=Government of Mauritius |access-date=2020-02-27}}{{cite web|title=Roshi Bhadain lance le Reform Party {{!}} Le Mauricien|url=http://www.lemauricien.com/article/roshi-bhadain-lance-reform-party|website=www.lemauricien.com|language=fr}}{{cite web |title=Belle-Rose/Quatre-Bornes : Arvin Boolell remporte une large victoire à l'élection partielle |url=https://defimedia.info/belle-rosequatre-bornes-arvin-boolell-remporte-une-large-victoire-lelection-partielle |publisher=Defimedia |access-date=13 July 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Fakun |first1=Nafissah |title=Roshi Bhadain provokes a by-election in No 18: A necessity or waste of resources? |url=https://defimedia.info/roshi-bhadain-provokes-election-no-18-necessity-or-waste-resources |publisher=Defimedia |access-date=13 July 2024}}

Controversies

=2013 India land sale and Labour Party swindler Bangaleea=

In November 2012, Nitesh Ramdharry, a Triolet resident and activist with the Parti Travailliste, appeared in a local newspaper claiming he had been assaulted by individuals associated with Parti Travailliste agent Hemant Bangaleea, who lived nearby. Ramdharry alleged that he had paid Rs 40 million to Bangaleea, who was imprisoned, to purchase 6 arpents of land in Goa, India, for a hotel resort. However, Ramdharry discovered that Bangaleea had provided a fake contract. Ramdharry sought legal assistance from Roshi Bhadain to recover his funds. Subsequently, Ramdharry accused Bhadain in two affidavits of advising him to inflate the amount paid from Rs 8.7 million to Rs 40 million and to name three former Parti Travailliste ministers—Anil Bachoo, Vasant Bunwaree, and Rajesh Jeetah—in an attempt to create a political scandal. On 17 December 2013, while Navin Ramgoolam was Prime Minister, Bhadain was interrogated by the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) and faced charges of conspiracy and failing to provide a receipt. Bhadain later sued Ramdharry for false and malicious accusations, given that Ramdharry had made the payment to Bangaleea before Bhadain's involvement. In March 2014, all cases against Bhadain were dismissed due to Ramdharry's questionable credibility and past.{{cite web |title=Affaire Bangaleea: Nitesh Ramdharry se rétracte et incrimine son avocat 02-Dec-2013 |url=https://lexpress.mu/article/affaire-bangaleea-nitesh-ramdharry-se-retracte-et-incrimine-son-avocat |publisher=L'Express |access-date=14 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Affaire Bangaleea: Roshi Bhadain poursuit Nitesh Ramdharry au privé 24-Dec-2013 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/affaire-bangaleea-roshi-bhadain-poursuit-nitesh-ramdharry-au-prive |publisher=L'express |access-date=14 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=L'homme aux multiples facettes 25-Nov-2012 |url=https://www.5plus.mu/node/2064 |publisher=5Plus |access-date=14 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Saga de Rs 40 M: Inn dir mwa cite nom trwa minis a déclaré en substance Nitesh Ramdharry 02-Dec-2013 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/le-mauricien/saga-rs-40-m-inn-dir-mwa-cite-nom-trwa-minis-declare-en-substance-nitesh-ramdharry/83541/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=14 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Affaire Bhadain: Et si Nitesh Ramdharry était un fabulateur patenté…19-Jan-2014 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/faits-divers/affaire-bhadain-et-si-nitesh-ramdharry-etait-fabulateur-patente/79587/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=14 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Affaire Nitesh Ramdharry: Les charges de complot contre Me Roshi Bhadain rayées 26-Mar-2014 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/le-mauricien/affaire-nitesh-ramdharry-les-charges-complot-contre-me-roshi-bhadain-rayees/73178/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=15 July 2024}}

=2021 L'affaire bois de teck=

On 17 December 2021, Roshi Bhadain was arrested at his residence in Albion by the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) on provisional charges of conspiracy to commit larceny. The charges were related to an alleged plot to steal valuable teak wood, which was stored at the Development Works Corporation (DWC) warehouse in Pailles. This case, known as L'affaire bois de teck or Scandale lames en teck in the Mauritian press, involved a carpenter named Joseph Kinsley Perrine, who reported to the police that an intermediary named Bijay Greedharry had sought his services to install teak boards at Bhadain's residence in 2011, when Bhadain was a director at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The police suspected that Bhadain had instructed an ICAC inspector in connection with the case. In 2010, there had been a robbery at the DWC warehouse, and it was believed that the stolen hardwood was sent to a carpentry workshop in Roche Bois before being used at Bhadain's home. Greedharry allegedly bribed a DWC security guard with Rs 10,000 to facilitate the theft. In 2011, Perrine was arrested for stealing 300 boards and 70 pieces of timber. Bhadain claimed he had paid Rs 70 per square foot for the teak boards and accused gambling and underworld figure Jean Michel Lee Shim of a political conspiracy, supporting his claims with audio recordings submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. By mid-March 2022, one witness had withdrawn his statement, and all charges against Bhadain were dropped.{{cite web |title=Affaire de vol de bois allégué : La charge provisoire contre Roshi Bhadain rayée 16-Mar-22 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/le-mauricien/affaire-de-vol-de-bois-allegue-la-charge-provisoire-contre-roshi-bhadain-rayee/479603/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=13 July 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Peerbaye |first1=Nafiisah |title=Vol de bois : l'avocat accusé Bhadain souhaite se défendre hors du box |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/402873/vol-bois-lavocat-accuse-bhadain-souhaite-defendre-hors-box |publisher=L'Express |access-date=13 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Roshi Bhadain: Un complot contre moi orchestré par Jean Michel Lee Shim 18-Dec-21 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/le-mauricien/roshi-bhadain-un-complot-contre-moi-orchestre-par-jean-michel-lee-shim/464384/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=13 July 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Jasodanand |first1=Narain |title=Vol de bois: un témoin se rétracte et dénonce un complot contre Bhadain 06-Jan-22 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/403357/vol-bois-un-temoin-retracte-et-denonce-un-complot-contre-bhadain |publisher=L'Express |access-date=13 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Affaire de vol de bois : Bhadain étale l’ombre de Lee Shim derrière la Political Conspiracy 06-Jan-22 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/le-mauricien/affaire-de-vol-de-bois-bhadain-etale-lombre-de-lee-shim-derriere-la-political-conspiracy/467014/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=13 July 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Casimir |first1=Stewelderson |last2=Sophie |first2=Lovina |last3=Vencatareddy-Nursingen |first3=Selvanee |title=Arrêté pour complot: la folle journée de Roshi Bhadain 18-Dec-2021 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/402690/arrete-pour-complot-folle-journee-roshi-bhadain |publisher=L'Express |access-date=14 July 2024}}{{cite web |title=Roshi Bhadain: J’ai payé ces lames en teck à Rs 70 le pied carré 18-Dec-2021 |url=https://defimedia.info/roshi-bhadain-jai-paye-ces-lames-en-teck-rs-70-le-pied-carre |publisher=Defimedia |access-date=14 July 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Peerbaye |first1=Nafiisah |title=Affaire vol de Bois: versions contradictoires de Perrine, Bhadain veut un éclaircissement de la police 24-Dec-2021 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/402900/affaire-vol-bois-versions-contradictoires-perrine-bhadain-veut-un-eclaircissement |access-date=14 July 2024}}

Award and Decoration

  • {{Flag|Mauritius}}:
  • 70x70px Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (2016){{Cite web |title=Décorés de la République : Roshi Bhadain et Nando Bodha reçoivent la plus haute distinction |url=https://defimedia.info/decores-de-la-republique-roshi-bhadain-et-nando-bodha-recoivent-la-plus-haute-distinction |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=Le Defi Media Group |language=fr}}

References

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