ED 'distributing' money during elections: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
Jodhpur, Nov 5: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday accused the Enforcement Directorate of "transporting" money for "distribution" during the assembly polls.
While making the charge, however, Gehlot did not elaborate on his allegation.
"This is the first time that elections and ED raids are going on simultaneously in the country. ED is transporting money for distributing it in these elections and the Election Commission of India should intervene in this matter," the chief minister said.
The ED recently claimed that a forensic analysis and a statement made by a 'cash courier' have led to "startling allegations" that the promoters of the 'Mahadev' betting app paid about Rs 508 crore to the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
Baghel refuted the allegations and dubbed the ED's press note levelling the charge as the BJP's second election manifesto.
Gehlot was talking to media persons at the Jodhpur airport after arriving here. He is set to file his nomination papers for the November 25 Rajasthan assembly polls from the Sardarpura constituency on Monday.
He further said it was interesting to note that the ED has not yet taken any step against a BJP leader.
The mandate of agencies like ED and I-T is to nab economic offenders but they are targeting the politicians in the entire country.
"The ED is for economic offences and financial embezzlement and we also want actions against these. But today, agencies like ED, CBI and I-T are targeting politicians," he said.
On voices of dissent within his party, Gehlot said it was normal and a spontaneous reaction to the announcement of candidates.
"All this dissent will be managed and all will be convinced that they have to work unitedly to bring the Congress back to power in the state," the chief minister said.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
