Congress leader Vaibhav Gehlot, who is also the son of Rajasthan's Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, made a statement after appearing before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi on Tuesday. Gehlot addressed reporters outside the ED's office, where he revealed, "ED sent a summon in connection with a FEMA case. I told them that we have nothing to do with FEMA. My family and I have not done any foreign transactions."
This development comes as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The ED has been conducting inquiries related to financial transactions and foreign exchange issues, and Vaibhav Gehlot's appearance is likely linked to this investigation.
During his brief interaction with the media, Gehlot informed them that the ED had requested him to appear again after an hour. This suggests that the investigation into the alleged FEMA case is ongoing, and further developments may follow.
Vaibhav Gehlot's statements emphasise his and his family's innocence concerning any involvement in foreign transactions, as he maintains that they have no connection to the FEMA case. The unfolding investigation will shed more light on the details and implications surrounding the matter.
The ED had issued summons to Vaibhav Gehlot, offering him the choice to depose at either the ED's Jaipur or Delhi offices. These summonses are directly associated with the recent ED raids conducted against the Rajasthan-based hospitality group Triton Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd., Vardha Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., and individuals including Shiv Shankar Sharma, Rattan Kant Sharma, and others.
During searches performed last month, the ED seized ₹1.2 crore in cash. The investigations indicate that the Triton group received investments from a Mauritius entity during the 2007-2008 period.
The ED is expected to interrogate Vaibhav Gehlot regarding his alleged connections with Rattan Kant Sharma.
In response to the allegations against his son, Ashok Gehlot has defended Vaibhav, emphasizing that he is not involved in foreign exchange dealings. He stated, "Vaibhav Gehlot only has a taxi company. Rattan (Kant Sharma) was a partner, but they work separately now."
The Rajasthan Chief Minister criticized central agencies for what he sees as their diminishing credibility, which he attributes to alleged misuse by the BJP-led central government. He expressed concern over the situation, stating, "Central agencies have no credibility now. It is a worrying situation. This is not about my son or the state Congress president. Aatank macha rakha hai desh mein (they have spread terror in the country)."
Gehlot further chastised the central agencies for issuing short notice summons, characterizing it as unacceptable.
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