When Rahul Gandhi comes into govt, what will be your fate: Ex-Raj Minister after ED raids

Jaipur, April 15 (IANS) Rajasthan's former minister and Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachriyawas criticised the BJP-led Central government following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on properties linked to his family on Tuesday.

"ED functions under the Centre. I don't expect much from this double-engine government. Unnecessary searches are being conducted at my family members' residences," Khachariyawas stated.

"We will cooperate fully with the ED officers and allow the entire search to be carried out, "he said.

Accusing the BJP of political vendetta, he said, "The BJP government is so rattled by my criticism that they ordered these raids. I’ve been speaking out against them for the last one and a half years. They target anyone who raises a voice against them. I knew this day would come, and I’m fully prepared."

Issuing a warning to BJP leaders, he said, "I want to remind BJP members that no government lasts forever. Times change. Today, you've started this, but tomorrow, we will respond in kind. We are not afraid. My name is Pratap Singh Khachariyawas. I know how to treat everyone. When Rahul Gandhi comes into government, what will be your fate?" he said.

Meanwhile, PCC chief of Rajasthan Govind Singh Dotasra also criticised the raids.

He said, "ED CBI has become weapons of Indian government. Khachriyawas has been an honest leader who has been raising his voice against anything wrong. He raised his voice when Rs 100 crore was spent on IIFA in Rajasthan by the state government. He also spoke clearly and candidly that temples like Khatu and Govind Dev were developed with money sanctioned under the Congress government. He is not afraid of anyone and hence came ED raids to scare him. Today, Khachriyawas is Congress' leader. Why are only Congress leaders being raided? Has there been no case against the BJP leader? Has the ED ever raided any of the BJP leaders? Opposition is being attacked in this country," he added.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at multiple locations linked to Khachariyawas in connection with the Rs 48,100 crore PACL scam.

The operation began around 5 a.m. at 19 locations, including his residence in Jaipur and other properties across the state.

The raids were being conducted by the Delhi team of ED, with local Jaipur units also joining. According to ED sources, the action pertains to alleged money laundering and property investments linked to Rs 2,850 crore, reportedly transferred in the names of Khachariyawas and his family members.

A significant portion of the funds is suspected to have been diverted into real estate and other assets.

The PACL scam is one of India's largest financial frauds, where over 5.85 crore investors across the country were duped of their money under the guise of real estate investments. In Rajasthan alone, approximately 28 lakh people had invested around Rs 2,850 crore in 17 years. The scam came to light following an investigation by SEBI, which deemed PACL's investment schemes illegal and ordered the company to shut down its operations on August 22, 2014. Investors’ funds remained locked after the closure. In February 2016, the Supreme Court appointed a committee under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice R.M. Lodha to recover funds by auctioning PACL’s assets and refunding the affected investors with interest.

According to SEBI’s assessment, PACL owns assets worth Rs 1.86 lakh crore, four times the amount collected from investors.

--IANS

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