Congress Leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas Slams ED Raid At His Home As "Politically Motivated" (Photo screengrab @BesuraTaansane IANS)
Jaipur, Rajasthan: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at the premises of Congress leader and former Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas’s home. The raid is reportedly in connection with the Rs 48,000-crore Pearl Agro Corporation Limited (PACL) investor fraud case.
The action by the central probe agency was sudden, and the Congress leader slammed it as “politically motivated.” As the officials were searching his home, Khachariyawas came out and spoke to the media, saying he would completely cooperate with the agency.
“They are doing their job, and I will do mine. I have nothing to hide,” the Congress leader was heard saying in a video shared by news agency ANI.
After accusing the BJP for misusing central agencies, the Congress leader said, “governments keep changing and the time will change.”
“Imagine what will happen to the BJP when Rahul Gandhi comes to power. You (BJP) have started these proceedings. We will also do the same against the people of the BJP,” the former minister said, adding that the probe agencies can do as many searches as they want, he is not scared and would cooperate with the officers. A large crowd had gathered outside the Congress leader’s home raising anti-BJP and anti-ED slogans while the search were conducted inside his residence.
#WATCH | Jaipur: On ED raid at his residence, Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas says, “Today they have come here to conduct searches and raids; they can do it. I am going to cooperate with them. ED is doing its work, and I will do my work. I believe the BJP should not do… pic.twitter.com/tAbvZvWbBO
— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2025
Read Also: ED Searches At Empuraan Producer’s: Rs 1.5 Cr Seized
According to the ED officials, the latest search into the residence of Khachariyawas is part of an ongoing probe against PACL, which is accused for orchestrating one of the largest ponzi scams in the country. They were alleged for collecting huge sums from investors under the guise of real estate investments, and failed to return the money.
It is alleged that around 28 lakh investors in Rajasthan alone were duped in the scam. The ED is also acting on an FIR registered against associates of the late Nirmal Singh Bhangoo, PACL’s founder, for allegedly attempting to illegally dispose of properties owned by PACL and its associated entities.
The ED suspects that the Congress leader might have indirect links to the PACL scheme and could have benefited from it. Khachariyawas held the Transport portfolio in the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. At present, the ED is conducting searches at over 15 locations across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi in connection with the case.
