The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday, 17 June, carried out searches at the residence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's brother Agrasen Gehlot in Jodhpur. This comes after the central probe agency registered a new case of corruption against the CM's younger brother.
CM Gehlot said that the raid was an act of revenge by the centre for his recent activism in Delhi.
The search operations, related to the alleged scam in 2007-09, also covered 16 other locations in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and West Bengal covering the premises of others accused in the case.
The Enforcement Directorate had summoned Agrasen Gehlot in relation with a case of illegal export of fertiliser in 2021.
The agency started the operation after registering a corruption case against Gehlot, who was an authorised dealer of India Potash Ltd, and others, the officials said.
It is alleged that between 2007-09, muriate of potash meant for farmers was exported to South East Asian countries, Saudi Arabia and other markets camouflaged as 'industrial salt', they said.
The government subsidy on the fertiliser was also allegedly pocketed by the accused through sham transactions among related companies, the CBI alleged.
'Why revenge is taken from my brother' asks Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
"If I am active in Delhi or have participated in this movement for Rahul Gandhi, then why revenge is taken from my brother?" Gehlot told reporters at the airport here after returning from the national capital.
"When there was a political crisis here in our government in 2020, at that time also the ED had raided my brother's place."
Gehlot said that he had recently sought an appointment with the director of CBI and the ED and the chairman of the Income Tax Department.
"It is beyond comprehension that first they conducted an ED raid, and now a raid by the CBI," the Rajasthan CM said.
Gehlot was in Delhi for several days to participate in the Congress' protest against the questioning of Rahul Gandhi by the ED in a money laundering case.
Congress Leaders Condemn Raids
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh condemned the raids, asserting they were part of the Narendra Modi-led central government's political vendetta. "This is vendetta politics beyond all bounds. Ashok Gehlot was at the forefront of the protests in Delhi over the past three days, and this is Modi Govt’s brazen response! We will not be silenced!" he tweeted.
A few other Congress leaders also tweeted their criticism of the CBI raid.
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