Rajasthan horse-trading: Union minister Gajendra Singh called for questioning

The Special Operation Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police has issued a notice to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for questioning over his alleged role in horse-trading to dismantle the Ashok Gehlot government.

“I am ready to face any investigation. The audio doesn’t have my voice. If I am called for questioning, I will definitely go,” NDTV quoted Shekhawat, the minister for Jal Shakti as saying.

The department on July 17 had filed two FIRs based on the complaint of Rajasthan Assembly chief whip Mahesh Joshi about three audiotapes that allegedly had a conversation of horse-trading between rebel Congress MLAs and BJP leaders including Shekhawat.

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The Congress had identified rebel MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma as one of the participants along with Sanjay Jain, a businessman who allegedly brokers deals due to his proximity with politicians. Jain who was arrested the same day is being interrogated.

Shekhawat and Sharma, however, have rubbished the allegations in separate statements and called the audiotapes “fake”.

A SOG team went to Manesar to track down another MLA who was allegedly involved in the ‘horse-trading’ talks but didn’t find anyone in the two resorts where Pilot and his loyalists were reported to be staying.