Sanjivani scam: Rajasthan HC grants interim relief to Shekhawat, orders stay on arrest

The Rajasthan government had submitted that presently, Shekhawat “is not an accused in any of the FIRs registered by the SOG” and that “since the petitioner is not an accused in any FIR, there is no apprehension of him being arrested by the SOG, Rajasthan Police, and therefore, the present criminal miscellaneous petition is totally misconceived.”

The case pertains to thousands of investors who were duped of about Rs 900 crore by the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society. Among others, the SOG had arrested Vikram Singh, the society’s founder and its first managing director. PTI quoted Shekhawat’s counsel Dhirendra Singh Daspan as saying that they sought the transfer of the investigation to the CBI on the grounds that the state has no jurisdiction in the matter.

Over the last few weeks, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has continuously attacked Shekhawat for his alleged role in the scam. Last month, a Delhi court had ordered the police to investigate a defamation complaint filed by Shekhawat against Gehlot over his remarks on the scam.

A Joint Commissioner-rank officer was asked to monitor the investigation and answer whether Shekhawat was addressed as “an accused” in the scam by Gehlot, whether Gehlot ever stated that the allegations against Shekhawat were proved, and whether Shekhawat or his family members have been arrayed as “an accused” in the investigation.

Shekhawat had alleged that Gehlot called him and his deceased mother “an accused” in the scam, and that “false, uncalled, derogatory and defamatory statements have been made with the aim to tarnish his image in the eyes of the general public, the voters and his kith and kin, with the object of gaining an undue political mileage.”

After Thursday’s HC order, the CM said, “Till yesterday he was saying that he is not a mulzim (guilty), then what was the need for him to go to the High Court and get a stay on his arrest? I would like to tell him again that you are a mulzim, your family members are mulzim, your friends are mulzim.”

“Such a person has no moral right to continue as a minister. The Prime Minister should expel him as a minister. I am quite angry that he is not coming forward to say that he will get them their money,” the CM said.

“It is a very serious case where two lakh people have been duped. He should be ashamed as a Union minister and accept his fault. He should tell his friends who have properties in the country and elsewhere, to sell them and repay the people,” Gehlot said.