ED raids premises of Ashok Gehlot’s brother in connection with fertiliser scam

Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the premises of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s brother on Wednesday, July 22 as part of the countrywide ongoing raids in connection with a multi crore money laundering case linked to a fertiliser scam, officials said. They said searches were conducted by the central probe agency in at least 13 places in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat and Delhi. The searches are also being conducted at the premises of Agrasen Gehlot in Jodhpur, who is facing a Rs 7 crore Customs penalty in this alleged fertiliser case, officials said. The ED has filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on a Customs department complaint and a charge sheet in the alleged fertiliser scam case. Six places in Rajasthan, four in Gujarat, 2 in West Bengal and one location in Delhi are being raided by the agency under the PMLA, they said. The scam involves Agrasen Gehlot’s company named Anupam Krishi accused of rules in exports for which the Customs department has levied a penalty of Rs 7 crore. The BJP accused Agrasen’s company of allegedly exported subsidised fertiliser. Agrasen Gehlot is accused of alleged illegal export of fertiliser worth Rs.150 crore meant for distribution among farmers at subsidised rates. The probe revolves around the export of Muriate of Potash essential for plant growth and quality. According to ED officials, Agrasen Gehlot is accused of selling the MOP  he got at a subsidised rate to companies based abroad. The export was first caught by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in 2012-13. The ED officials said that the MOP was sold to some companies in Malaysia and Singapore as industrial salt. The loss incurred to the government due to wrongly claimed subsidy was Rs 60 crore, Hindustan Times (HT) reports quoting   ED officials.