Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat has filed a defamation suit against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the Rouse Avenue Court.

Sekhawat claimed that the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made defamatory statements against him in connection with the former’s alleged involvement in the Sanjivani Credit Society scam.

CM Ashok Gehlot launched a personal tirade against the Union Minister in February and said that the latter’s crime has been proved in the Special Operations Group (SOG) investigation into ‘The Sanjeevani Cooperative Society scam’.

Statement by Rajasthan Chief Minister

Rajasthan Chief Minister tweeted, “Gajendra Singh Shekhawat knows this very well. They know that the Sanjeevani Society has looted the lifetime deposits of more than 1 lakh victims amounting to more than Rs 900 crore. In this case, the rights to attach the property are with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and not with the SOG. SOG has urged ED to attach properties related to the Sanjeevani Society five times in the last two years, but ED, which has been raiding the houses of opposition leaders across the country, has not yet taken action and attached the properties of the accused in the Sanjeevani scam”.

“You are a Union Minister, if you are innocent then why don’t you come forward to return the money of the poor? The Central Registrar has appointed a liquidator in this matter, but he will be able to return the money to the victims only when the property of Sanjivani Society is attached and the money is recovered from there”, he added.

He further said, ” “Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is trying to mislead the public in the case of the Sanjeevani Cooperative Society scam, whereas, in the investigation of Special Operation Group (SOG), he has been named as accused while other accused have been arrested under the same sections. The crime has been proven against him”.

Gajendra Singh Sekhawat said that an investigation has been conducted by the Rajasthan government into the case and his name has not been mentioned anywhere.

Union Jal Shakti Minister has demanded prosecution against Gehlot under the IPC sections for criminal defamation.

BJP Lok Sabha MP from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur has sought financial compensation against Rajasthan CM for damaging his reputation.

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