- Weeks before the Rajasthan election, ED raids state Congress chief’s premises.
- The ED teams raided seven locations, including the Congress state president and a candidate of the ruling party in the state’s premises in the paper leak case.
- The Central probe agency also summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot.
- The raids came three days after CM Gehlot accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre of misusing the ED to harass the ruling Congress in Rajasthan.
- In a post on social media Gehlot called “non-stop” ED raids in Rajasthan the proof of the Congress winning the election.
- Opposition BJP said “They should be worried only if they are guilty. Everyone should cooperate in the probe.”
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids in 7 locations, including Congress Rajasthan president Govind Singh Ji Dotasaraa and grand old party candidate’s premises in the paper leak case on Thursday. The Central probe agency also summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot.
Reacting to the ED’s action, CM Gehlot targeted the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), saying the saffron party does not want women, farmers and the poor in Rajasthan should get the benefit of the guarantees given by Congress.
The raids on the premises of Dotasara, who is contesting the November 25 election from Lacchmangarh in Sikar, began at 8.30 a.m. People aware of the matter said the raids were being conducted in connection with the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers paper leak in 2021.
The ED action came just two days after Gehlot alleged that the BJP is using the ED to harass the Congress. Asserting that the Congress will win the polls, he said in a post on X, “The non-stop ED raids in Rajasthan are proof that Congress is winning the election. Unable to win the trust of the people of Rajasthan, the BJP is misusing ED to harass the Congress.”
Earlier, ED searches at a coaching institute, private persons, and others as part of its ongoing money laundering probe into the alleged question paper leak of the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers, 2021.
Opposition BJP lawmaker Ram Lal Sharma insisted the raids were being conducted on the basis of evidence. “They should be worried only if they are guilty. Everyone should cooperate in the probe.”
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are going to the polls along with Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Mizoram between November 7 and 30. This will be the last major electoral exercise ahead of the 2024 elections.
The Congress wrested power from the BJP in the Hindi-speaking heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh months before the 2019 general elections. It is hoping to retain power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and form the government in Madhya Pradesh, the largest of the five states accounting for roughly 15% of India’s population.
(With inputs from agencies)
