Ambulance scam: Politicians' names dragged in to increase 'news value', says Gehlot

Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot on Saturday criticised the Vasundhara Raje government in the state for dragging the names of politicians into the ambulance scam, saying it was an attempt to increase the news value of the case.

"Dragging the names of political leaders into this case in an attempt to increase its news value. It's a political vendetta aimed at revenge, but the law will take its course," Gehlot told ANI.

He added that the state government could have investigated the case since they are in power, but they had given it to the CBI to increase the news value of this case.

Gehlot also said that there were serious allegations against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her son and this was an attempt to divert the attention of the people from those allegations.

"She should order a CBI inquiry on the charges against her family," he added.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the ambulance scam probe on Friday against former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and other members of the Congress party.

The scam dates back to 2009 when Krishna's company, Ziqitza Healthcare, a company run by Ravi Krishna, received a tender to operate 108 ambulances across Rajasthan, Bihar and Punjab.

An audit was conducted after the BJP's allegations that Krishna's company was being paid money for ambulances which were on record only on paper, after which huge financial irregularities in the way the ambulances were operated were seen with losses amounting to Rs. 14 crore.