**Title:** ED Raids Congress Leader’s Home in PACL Fraud Investigation
**Meta Description:** The Enforcement Directorate raids Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas’ residence in connection with the PACL investor fraud case involving ₹48,000 crores.
**URL Slug:** ed-raids-khachariyawas-pacl-fraud
**Headline:** Enforcement Directorate Conducts Raids on Congress Leader in PACL Fraud Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a series of raids at the residence of Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, a Congress leader and former minister in Rajasthan, as part of an investigation into the ₹48,000-crore Pearl Agro Corporation Limited (PACL) investor fraud case. This operation took place on Tuesday and is part of a broader inquiry into PACL, which is accused of executing one of India’s largest Ponzi schemes by misleading investors under the pretense of real estate investments and failing to return their funds.
ED officials report that around 2.8 million investors in Rajasthan alone have been affected by this scam. The central agency is also pursuing an FIR against associates of the late Nirmal Singh Bhangoo, the founder of PACL, for allegedly attempting to unlawfully sell properties owned by PACL and its affiliates. Sources indicate that the ED suspects Khachariyawas may have indirect connections to the PACL scheme and could have profited from it.
The original FIR regarding the PACL scam was filed in 2011, and since then, numerous cases have emerged against the company nationwide. Khachariyawas previously held the Transport portfolio in the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. Currently, the ED is conducting searches at over 15 locations across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi related to this case.
In response to the ED’s actions, Khachariyawas accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing central agencies to target political opponents. He stated, “Governments keep changing, and time will change. Imagine what will happen to the BJP when Rahul Gandhi comes to power. You (BJP) have initiated these proceedings. We will also respond in kind against BJP members. They can conduct as many searches as they wish; we are not afraid. We will cooperate with the officers.”
As the raids unfolded, a significant number of Khachariyawas’s supporters gathered outside his residence in Jaipur, chanting slogans against the BJP and the ED.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What is the PACL fraud case about?**
A: The PACL fraud case involves allegations that the company orchestrated a massive Ponzi scheme, collecting large sums from investors under the guise of real estate investments and failing to return their money.