Hitesh Jain Steps Down
Hitesh Jain, a full-time member of the 23rd Law Commission, resigned from his post with the President formally accepting it “with effect from the afternoon of October 29, 2025,” according to an official notification from the Law Ministry. Appointed in April 2025 under chairperson Justice (Retd) Dinesh Maheshwari, Jain’s tenure lasted barely six months, prompting fresh scrutiny amid social media chatter linking him and other officials to the Mahadev Online Betting App controversy.
Evidence and Allegations Linking Hiren Joshi
Social media posts and purported documents allege Hiren Joshi received substantial payments from Mahadev-linked operators for “foreign deals” and media influence while in the PMO. Screenshots, chat logs, and online PDFs shared widely on platforms like X and YouTube suggest links between Joshi and Mahadev operators, but these remain unverified.
Circumstantial signals—Joshi’s abrupt exit from the PMO, responsibilities passing to IT and I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and timing coinciding with enforcement pressure on the Dubai network—have fueled speculation. However, no official ED or CBI charge sheets publicly name Joshi, and enforcement agencies have yet to confirm any formal investigation involving him.
Publicly available evidence includes:
· Screenshots and purported chat logs shared online.
· Narrative accounts in long-form media videos and articles summarising potential financial links.
These materials, while widely circulated, have not been authenticated by any judicial or investigative authority, leaving the alleged connection unproven in legal terms.
Timeline of Hitesh Jain’s Appointment and Resignation
The 23rd Law Commission was constituted on September 1, 2024, for a three-year term until August 31, 2027. Hitesh Jain, a senior litigation lawyer and managing partner at Parinam Law Associates, was appointed a full-time member on April 15, 2025.
Jain submitted his resignation on October 29, 2025, with the Law Ministry formally notifying its acceptance on November 13, 2025. His departure, roughly six and a half months into the three-year tenure, was recorded without explanation. The Commission continues under Justice Maheshwari, now with one fewer full-time member, while law secretary Anju Rathi Rana assumes additional duties as member-secretary.
Context and Public Perception
While Jain’s resignation occurs amidst social media speculation linking him to Joshi and the betting app, official documents do not connect his exit to the Mahadev investigation. The controversy has, however, amplified public attention to the potential influence of alleged hawala networks on law and regulatory frameworks.
The pattern of high-profile exits has sparked debate about governance, accountability, and transparency in the nexus of politics, law, and digital media. The online discourse underscores the need for clearer communication from investigative agencies and regulatory bodies to address both perceived and real conflicts of interest.
Navigating Speculation and Institutional Continuity
Hitesh Jain’s resignation highlights the pressures facing officials amidst high-profile financial and regulatory controversies. While public speculation links him and others to the Mahadev betting network, verified evidence remains absent, and legal investigations have not implicated him. The Law Commission continues to function, and institutional mechanisms remain intact, emphasizing that governance and legal oversight persist independently of social media narratives. Clear, transparent communication from authorities will be key to separating verified facts from online conjecture, ensuring accountability without undermining institutional stability.
(With agency inputs)
