The probe agency is raiding at least 13 places in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat & Delhi, as per news agencies. Also Read: Rajasthan Drama In SC Now, Speaker Files Petition Against HC Order Deferring Action Against Pilot & 18 MLAs
Who is Agrasen Gehlot & what is the fertilizer scam?
Elder brother of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Agrasen Gehlot, runs a business of seeds and fertilisers and is under the scanner in the alleged scam since 2007-08.
Gehlot is facing a Rs 7 crore Customs penalty in this alleged fertiliser case, as per PTI. The ED has filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on a Customs department complaint and chargesheet in the alleged fertiliser scam case.
Also Read | Rajasthan: Infighting Among Congress Intensifies As Pilot Sends Notice To Party MLA On Rs 35Cr Bribery Allegation
In the years 2007-2009, Agrasen Gehlot was allegedly involved in exporting Potash (Muriate of Potash), which is imported only by the Indian Potash Limited and is distributed among farmers at subsidized rates. It is alleged that Gehlot exported the chemical as he was an authorized dealer for IPL. He allegedly bought the Potash at subsidized rates and instead of distributing it in farmers he exported it to Malaysia and Singapore.
Raids on premises of other close aides of Gehlot ever since Rajasthan political crisis began:
Earlier, Income Tax department conducted searches in the offices of veteran state Congress leaders, including Rajeev Arora and Dharmendra Rathod, considered close to the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, the ED team also carried out searches at Hotel Fairmont in Jaipur.As per reports, investor Ratan Kant Sharma, a close aide of Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot, is under the financial probe agency's scanner. It is claimed that Sharma had received around Rs 96.7 crore from Mauritius and has stakes in Hotel Fairmont.
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