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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted searches at 25 locations across Rajasthan today (November 03) in a money laundering case into the implementation of the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission in the poll-bound state.
These searches are being held in Jaipur and Dausa including the premises of the Additional Chief Secretary in the Public Health Engineering Department, Subodh Agarwal.
#WATCH | Enforcement Directorate searches underway at 25 locations across Rajasthan in the Jal Jeevan Mission case.
— ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2023
Visuals from the residence of IAS officer Subodh Agarwal and IRS officer Rolee Agarwal in Jaipur, where a search is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/5eFCVOYQED
According to the media reports, the premises of some engineers, contractors and former state government officials, suspected to have links in the case, are also being covered. The searches are being conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Earlier on September 01, the ED also carried out similar raids at several cities in Congress-led Rajasthan.
The probe agency’s money laundering case is based on an FIR lodged earlier by the Rajasthan Police.
In June, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena had alleged a scam of Rs 20,000 crore in the implementation of the Central government's 'Jal Jeevan Mission' in Rajasthan.
He had alleged that tenders worth Rs 900 crore were issued to two firms based on fake experience certificates in 48 projects of the scheme.
Notably, the 'Jal Jeevan Mission' aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through household tap connections and is being implemented by the Rajasthan Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).
Last month, the ED also conducted raids at state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara’s residence in Jaipur and Sikar.
Even, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son, Vaibhav Gahelot was also been summoned for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case.
The move drew criticism from the ruling Congress which questioned the 'timing', 'objective', and 'intent' of the Central government.
Meanwhile, the chief minister has slammed the probe agency’s crackdown by linking it to a "locust swarm from Pakistan."
#WATCH | On Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says, "You are seeing that ED raids are taking place in the country. Just like "tiddi dal" (locust swarm) comes from Pakistan, similarly "ED dal" is coming today..." pic.twitter.com/SBNZzwb90M
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023
Gehlot made these comments during an event in Rajasthan, where he said that the probe agency is being employed to target opposition leaders and destabilize governments, rather than fulfilling its intended purpose.
“You are seeing that ED raids are taking place in the country. Just like “tiddi dal” (locust swarm) comes from Pakistan, similarly “ED dal” is coming today…” he said.
While emphasising that the credibility of agencies like the CBI, ED, and Income Tax Department is diminishing, Ashok Gehlot said, “They have made it a joke. I was reading an article today that said that the firepower of agencies like the CBI, ED and Income tax department is reducing.”
#WATCH | Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says, "Public response is extraordinary. The people are appreciating our policies & good governance...The way ED is behaving is not in their interest. The ED raids are being done on political party leaders only...Their credibility is being… pic.twitter.com/8ZLJBv7PeC
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2023
Speaking to ANI, Gehlot said that the credibility of the ED is being reduced.
“The way ED is behaving is not in their interest. The ED raids are being done on political party leaders only…Their credibility is being reduced…” he said.
Polling for all 200 seats in the Rajasthan Assembly will be held on November 25 and the counting of votes will be held on December 3.
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