Gehlot raises questions on ACB's working in land deal case

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today condemned the summoning of ex-Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal by Anti Corruption Bureau in connection with alleged irregularities in a land deal in which a senior RAS officer was arrested two days back.
Gehlot said even though the FIR lodged with the ACB does not name Dhariwal, he was summoned.
"It is unfortunate that Dhariwal is being summoned by the ACB despite the fact that he is not named in the FIR. An atmosphere is deliberately being created," the Congress leader told reporters here.
Accusing the agency of not being impartial, Gehlot said, "There are talks that ACB these days is working with a certain agenda and as per instructions (from the higher level)."

A case was registered with the ACB in December last year alleging that officers of Jaipur Development Authority and Urban Development and Housing Department in connivance transferred a society deed of a land to a builder against prescribed norms in 2011.
Retired IAS officer GS Sandhu, who was then the Additional Chief Secretary (UDH), had cleared the file to transfer the deed. He too has been summoned by the ACB but has so far not turned up.
The ACB yesterday served a notice to former UDH Minister Dhariwal to appear before it on October 9 for questioning.
Dhariwal today sought time from the ACB till October 15-16. "I sent a letter to the ACB officials seeking time to appear before them because I have no record of this case. I will get the documents through RTI and prepare myself to appear before the ACB," he said.