The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted lightning raids on the residence and shop of Agrasen Gehlot, the brother of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in the forenoon of Thursday, in an alleged export scam of fertilizers, mainly Muriate of Potash, against his company, Anupam Krishi, in Jodhpur.
A team comprising CBI sleuths from Delhi and Jodhpur raided the residence of Agrasen. According to the family sources, no one else was allowed inside during the inspection. Agrasen’s main shop in Jodhpur’s Paota area was also the target of the CBI.
The ED and Custom Departments have been investigating the business deals of Anupam Krishi since 2020 when the premises of Agrasen Gehlot were raided in Jodhpur.
Meanwhile, a press release on the website of the investigating agency informed that the CBI has registered a case against 15 accused including private companies based in Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, etc, and its director/proprietors, partners, and unknown others on the allegations of causing loss of Rs.52.8 cr (approximately) to the Government exchequer.
“Earlier, a preliminary enquiry was registered. It was revealed during PE that Muriate of Potash (MOP), a restricted item, could be exported only with the prior permission of GOI. The imported MOP is supplied by M/s Indian Potash Limited (IPL) to farmers through its authorised dealers at subsidized rates and claims the subsidy from GOI”, the release added.
CM ALLEGES VENDETTA
“For my Delhi’s protest during Rahul Gandhi visiting ED, the Central Government is taking revenge from my brother,” Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told the media on his arrival at Jaipur Airport here after spending four days in Delhi.
Gehlot further said, “On the contrary, I had sought time from CBI, ED and Income Tax chiefs to meet on June 13. The case was registered on 15th June and was raided on 17th June. What is this approach? This is beyond comprehension.”
The chief minister further said, “Even during the political crisis in my government in 2020, the ED had raided my brother’s business establishments and home. My brother is doing his business for the last 40-45 years. I joined the protest against the ED questioning of Rahul Gandhi, so why is my brother being avenged for it? He has nothing to do with politics.”
No member of the chief minister’s family is in politics. It is beyond comprehension that first it was the ED, and now the CBI reached his brother’s place. Even the general public does not like it. “The more people you harass, the more backlash the backlash against you,” he warned the BJP government at the Centre.
The CM said he would again seek time to meet heads of the CBI, the ED, and the Income Tax Department in Delhi to make them aware of public response and opinion on their activities under the government’s pressure.