NEW DELHI: While Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is still busy battling internal rebellion in the Congress to save his government, the Enforcement Directorate has fast-tracked investigation against his Jodhpur-based elder brother Agrasain Gehlot who has been summoned for questioning at the agency’s Delhi Headquarters on Wednesday.
Sources said the agency has centralised all probes against the Gehlot clan, including the one against RK Sharma, the business partner of CM’s son Vaibhav Gehlot, at its headquarters. Before Agrasain Gehlot, Sharma was summoned twice at ED’s Delhi office for questioning.
Sharma, who owns the Fairmont Hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur, has been summoned in connection with his business dealings with the CM’s son and to establish the source of investments that came from Mauritius. About 80-odd Congress MLAs supporting the chief minister were sheltered at the five-star luxurious hotel which is under investigation for suspicious investments of Rs 97 crore coming from the tax haven.
This entire week has been dedicated to questioning of Agrasain Gehlot and his associates, including the owner of Saraf Impex Pvt Ltd that was behind the illegal export of fertiliser in which the CM’s elder brother is an accused.
TOI reported last week that an investigation report of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had accused Agrasain Gehlot of receiving cash and ‘knowingly’ becoming part of a ‘smuggling syndicate’ in the alleged illegal export of potassium chloride. The DRI has filed a prosecution complaint in the case earlier this month that has been used by the ED to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Two show cause notices issued by Customs authorities against Gehlot in 2013 allege he was aware of the ‘smuggling syndicate’, and when confronted with documentary evidence by the investigating officers, he ‘accepted the fact of receiving payments in cash’. The Customs authorities had imposed Rs 61 crore of penalty on Gehlot in 2013 for the alleged fraud.
Gehlot refused to comment on the accusations made in the DRI report when contacted by TOI. The report states his role in the fraudulent export of potash as his firm Anupam Krishi was the origin of the exports made by Saraf Impex Pvt Ltd. The total illegal exports of MOP (Muriate of Potash) is around 30,000 tons worth Rs 130 crore. He is accused of receiving huge commission, according to the show cause notices.
Sources said the agency has centralised all probes against the Gehlot clan, including the one against RK Sharma, the business partner of CM’s son Vaibhav Gehlot, at its headquarters. Before Agrasain Gehlot, Sharma was summoned twice at ED’s Delhi office for questioning.
Sharma, who owns the Fairmont Hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur, has been summoned in connection with his business dealings with the CM’s son and to establish the source of investments that came from Mauritius. About 80-odd Congress MLAs supporting the chief minister were sheltered at the five-star luxurious hotel which is under investigation for suspicious investments of Rs 97 crore coming from the tax haven.
This entire week has been dedicated to questioning of Agrasain Gehlot and his associates, including the owner of Saraf Impex Pvt Ltd that was behind the illegal export of fertiliser in which the CM’s elder brother is an accused.
TOI reported last week that an investigation report of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had accused Agrasain Gehlot of receiving cash and ‘knowingly’ becoming part of a ‘smuggling syndicate’ in the alleged illegal export of potassium chloride. The DRI has filed a prosecution complaint in the case earlier this month that has been used by the ED to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Two show cause notices issued by Customs authorities against Gehlot in 2013 allege he was aware of the ‘smuggling syndicate’, and when confronted with documentary evidence by the investigating officers, he ‘accepted the fact of receiving payments in cash’. The Customs authorities had imposed Rs 61 crore of penalty on Gehlot in 2013 for the alleged fraud.
Gehlot refused to comment on the accusations made in the DRI report when contacted by TOI. The report states his role in the fraudulent export of potash as his firm Anupam Krishi was the origin of the exports made by Saraf Impex Pvt Ltd. The total illegal exports of MOP (Muriate of Potash) is around 30,000 tons worth Rs 130 crore. He is accused of receiving huge commission, according to the show cause notices.
Source link
Be First to Comment