Jaipur, Oct 26: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot for questioning in a case related to alleged contravention of the foreign exchange law, official sources said on Thursday.
Vaibhav Gehlot has been asked to depose before the federal agency’s office either in Jaipur or in New Delhi on Friday, they said.
The summons are linked to the recent ED raids against Rajasthan based hospitality group Triton Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd., Vardha Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. and its directors and promoters Shiv Shankar Sharma, Rattan Kant Sharma and others.
The agency had searched the group and its promoters for three days in August at locations in Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and Delhi.
Rattan Kant Sharma’s alleged links with Vaibhav Gehlot are allegedly under the scanner of the ED and it is expected to question and record his statement under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Unaccounted cash of Rs 1.2 crore was seized by the ED after these searches.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday slammed the Bhartiya Janata Party for Enforcement Directorate’s action against Congress leaders in Rajasthan including a summon to his son Vaibhav Gehlot. Gehlot said. Accusing the BJP of misusing central agencies, Gehlot said, “BJP does not want that women, farmers and poor in Rajasthan should get the benefit of the guarantees given by Congress.”
Addressing a press conference in Jaipur, Gehlot Said, “…The situation today is worrying. The question is not about someone, the question is not about my son. They have spread terror across the country. I have heard that ED officers have shifted their families to Chhattisgarh for a year now and are living there on rent because they had to raid every day…”
Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa slamming the BJP over ED’s action said, “…This is a black day for democracy. This has never happened before during elections. A new trend has begun in Rajasthan and the Congress-ruled states that go to polls. I would like to ask BJP Govt if they have anything else except IT, ED and CBI. Congress will not be scared. BJP should show the symbols of ED, CBI and IT along with its ‘Lotus’ symbol.”