An FIR has been registered against Vaibhav Gehlot, son of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, for allegedly duping a Nashik resident of crores of rupees.
“A complaint has been filed against 16 people hailing from Rajasthan and Gujarat. The FIR has been filled by a person named Sushil Patil alleging that he has been duped by crores of rupees,” said Riyaz Shaikh, Senior Police Inspector, Gangapur Police Station.
Complainant Patil said that a Gujarat Congress worker Sachin Valre assured him in 2018 that he is close to Ashok Gehlot and manages government contract given by the state government. “He asked me to become a partner in a private limited company dealing with government contracts. I have invested Rs 6.80 crores through that company. When returns on my investment stopped, I started bugging them. A video call was arranged between me and Vaibhav Gehlot where Gehlot assured me of returns to my investment,” he said.
Vaibhav Gehlot on Sunday rubbished the allegations and called the FIR baseless. “Rajasthan Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in 2023. Till then, allegations, counter-allegations, false FIRs will continue. These allegations are baseless,” he said.
Irrespective of such false cases, we will continue working for the welfare of the people, he added.
Chairman of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) and senior Congress leader Dharmendra Rathore also rubbished the allegations, saying that there is no truth in it.
Rathore said that the allegations are baseless and politically motivated, which have been made out of malafide intention.
The RTDC chairman also said that whatever BJP leaders were saying was politically motivated. Rathore came down heavily on Jodhpur MP and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, saying that his job is only to criticize the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan. He said that it is due to Ashok Gehlot’s growing popularity that the BJP is trying to tarnish the image of Vaibhav Gehlot.
Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria sought an explanation from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot over the FIR. “Vaibhav Gehlot, the son of Rajasthan’s Gandhi, has been surrounded by allegations. If your son, from your own house, is involved in such negative matters, then tell me whether you are respecting Gandhi’s name or ridiculing his name?” Kataria said. “I pray that at least now you open your mouth and answer the people of Rajasthan and people of India. Explain what is happening in the family?” he asked.