ED Searches Residence Of Rajasthan Ex-Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas In Jaipur

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday searched the residence of Congress leader and former Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas in connection with an alleged chit fund scam. 

While there has been no official word from the ED, the Indian Express reported the searches are said to be linked to the alleged Pearl Agro Corporation Limitar (PACL) scam. 

ED teams reached Khachariyawas' residence in Jaipur's Civil Lines area at 7 am on Tuesday for the searches which are still underway. 

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'BJP Dug Its Own Cave' 

The former transport minister in the Ashok Gehlot government alleged the BJP of starting the proceedings against him.  

...Governments keep changing, and the times will change. Imagine what will happen to the BJP when Rahul Gandhi comes to power. You (BJP) have started these proceedings, we will also do the same against the people of BJP. They can do as many searches as they want, we are not scared. We will cooperate with the officers...," he told ANI. 

The Congress leader said his father Laxman is over 85 years old and his mother has been unwell for the last month and a half. As supporters reached his residence, raising slogans against the BJP, he said that the "BJP has dug its own grave." 

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ED Notice To Khachariyawas 

During the political crisis in Rajasthan in August 2020, the ED had served a notice to Khachariyawas, his father and brother over his family's alleged involvement in the PACL case. The notice was served for related land transcations on the border. 

He had then appeared at the ED office in Jaipur, where the agency interrogated him for several hours. 

Khachariyawas said there is no ED case pending against him now. 

The ED had begun its investigation into the alleged scam case based on the FIR booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation under various sections of Indian Penal Code. 

It has been alleged that PACL, now banned by SEBI, collected money from the public througj illegal collective investment schemes for allotting plots in various parts of the country. 

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