Jaipur: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted raids on the residence of Congress leader and former Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas in connection with the Rs 48,000-crore Pearl Agro Corporation Limited (PACL) investor fraud case.

the probe agency is conducting searches at over 15 locations across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi

According to ED officials, the raids are part of an ongoing probe against PACL, accused of orchestrating one of India’s largest ponzi scams by collecting huge sums from investors under the guise of real estate investments, and failing to return the money.

Investigators allege that approximately 28 lakh investors in Rajasthan alone were duped in the scam.

The central probe agency is also acting on an FIR registered against associates of the late Nirmal Singh Bhangoo, PACL’s founder, for allegedly attempting to illegally dispose of properties owned by PACL and its associated entities.

The original FIR in the PACL scam was filed in 2011 and since then, multiple cases have been lodged against the company across the country.

Khachariyawas held the Transport portfolio in the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government.

Currently, the probe agency is conducting searches at over 15 locations across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, speaking to news agency ANI amid the ED’s presence at his residence, Khachariyawas accused the BJP of misusing central agencies to target political rivals.

“Governments keep changing, time will change. Imagine what will happen to the BJP when Rahul Gandhi comes to power. You (BJP) have started these proceedings. We will also do the same against the people of the BJP. They can do as many searches as they want, we are not scared. We will cooperate with the officers,” the Congress leader said.