Ashok Gehlot's Brother Raided In Alleged Fertiliser Fraud

Ashok Gehlot’s brother raided by Enforcement Directorate in alleged fertiliser scam.

New Delhi:

The home of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s brother is getting raided by the Enforcement Directorate in relationship with an alleged rip-off in exporting fertiliser, resources claimed. The Enforcement Directorate or ED currently carried out raids in several sites across the country in link with the situation, resources mentioned.

Ashok Gehlot is in a fight to continue to keep his authorities afloat following a rebellion by Sachin Pilot and MLAs faithful to him.

The BJP has 76 MLAs in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly and to sort federal government, the occasion will need to have the aid of at least 25 more MLAs. But the BJP is hunting at an additional 10 MLAs as a buffer.

In accordance to ED resources, the business run by Agrasain Gehlot experienced offered the subsidised fertiliser “muriate of potash” or MoP to firms, who then exported it although it is banned for exports.

Indian Potash Ltd is the authorised importer of MoP and the chemical is dispersed to farmers at subsidised fees.

Between 2007 and 2009, Agrasain Gehlot’s business Anupam Krishi, which was an authorised seller of Indian Potash Ltd, bought MoP at subsidised charges and as a substitute of distributing it to farmers, the business allegedly sold it to a handful of others who in change exported it to Malaysia and Singapore in the guise of “industrial salt”, investigators said.

The Directorate of Earnings Intelligence unearthed the alleged scam in 2012-13.

READ "Morally reprehensible": London wants to send migrants to third countries

Agrasain Gehlot had then told the customs that some middlemen who bought MoP from him to distribute it to farmers experienced instead bought it for exports.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala questioned the timing of the raid.

“Key Minister Modi has developed raid raj in the country, but we are not heading be scared. When the centre’s gimmicks failed to topple the Congress governing administration in Rajasthan, ED raids commenced on the premises of Gehlot’s elder brother,” Mr Surjewala reported, news agency PTI described. “The CBI also interrogated CM’s OSD (officer on specific responsibility) and now ED raids are being conducted at CM’s elder brother residence,” he reported.