ED raids premises of Rajasthan Congress leader Khachariyawas, others

On Tuesday the Enforcement Directorate raided the premises of Rajasthan Congress leader and former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and a few others as part of a Rs 48000crore PACL Ponzi fraudlinked money laundering probe as per officials15 premises including the politicians house in Jaipur are being searched by the federal probe agency A security team of the CRPF has also been deployedKhachariyawas nephew of former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat stated outside his ancestral house that the ED action was politically motivated because he has been speaking against the government reported PTIShekhawat argued he had done nothing wrong and that he was not afraid of the EDAs the news about the ED raids broke supporters of Khachariyawas gathered outside his residence and raised slogansThey have brought a notice to search the premises They have not given notice linking it to any company Premises can be searched anywhere in the country it is their right I am neither afraid nor nervous Khachariyawas stated reported PTIIf there is any issue I will respond There are six lawyers from my side he saidThe Congress leader claimed that the ED had come to search his house to scare himThe BJP is arrogant It has been in power at the Centre for 11 years and it is also in power in Rajasthan I have been speaking against them and therefore they have taken this action but I am not going to get scared the Congress leader asserted adding that he will continue raising his voice against the governmentAccording to PTI Khachariyawas alleged the ED takes action without any reasonThey called our leader Rahul Gandhi When they give a reason I will respond So far the ED has not given any reason for the search Khachariyawas saidKhachariyawas noted that the BJP government should not do politics through the EDThe former minister also said that he has nothing to do with any companyKhachariyawas said he lives in a joint family and such actions disturb the entire familyI will now build a new house name it Kranti House and start a revolt from there so that my family is not disturbed Khachariyawas saidLeader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Tikaram Jully termed the action against Khachariywas political revengeFormer minister and senior Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas has been raising his voice against the BJP government Fearing this the BJP government has sent central agencies to his house Jully posted on XIn 2020 also an attempt was made to harass him similarly This action being taken against Pratap Singh Khachariyawas in the spirit of political revenge is condemnable he saidThe 2015 money laundering investigation stems from a Central Bureau of Investigation CBI FIR against PACL India Limited PGF Limited the late PACL promoter Nirmal Singh Bhangoo and others for operating fraudulent investment schemes to deceive investorsThrough these schemes PACL and its directors defrauded the investors of about Rs 48000 crore according to the EDAlleged proceeds of crime are suspected to have been diverted to various entities including those linked to Khachariyawas PTI sources claimedThe ED has attached assets worth Rs 706 crore including two immovable properties worth Rs 462 crore in Australia and filed two charge sheets against PACL Bhangoo and othersBhangoo died in August last yearWith inputs from PTIatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params