ED raids former Rajasthan minister Pratap Khachariyawas’ residence

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday carried out a search operation at the residence of former Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas in Jaipur in connection with its ongoing investigation in the Pearl Agro Corporation Limited (PACL) scam.

Khachariyawas held the Transport portfolio in the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government.

According to official sources, a team of ED sleuths reached Khachariyawas’ residence as early as 5 am and began searching the premises.

Apart from his residence, 19 more locations linked to him are also being searched, they said.

Reacting to the development, Khachariyawas told reporters that he was not given any prior notice by the probe agency.

“Today, they have come here to conduct searches and raids; they can do it. I am going to cooperate with them. The ED is doing its work, and I will do my work. I believe the BJP should not do politics using the ED. Pratap Singh Khachariyawas is not scared of anyone. I was not given any notice from the ED. The ED conducted raids here directly," the Congress leader said.

Khachariyawas accused the BJP of misusing central agencies to target political rivals.

“Governments come and go. One day Rahul Gandhi will come to power and then the BJP will know how it feels. If they can initiate action against us, we will also not hold back when our time comes," he said, warning the ruling party of similar treatment in the future.

India