The Congress on Monday called for a Supreme Court-monitored CBI investigation into the alleged Rs 6000 crore ‘ponzi’ scandal involving Gujarat BJP leader Bhupendrasinh Jhala.
Rajya Sabha MP and Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil told reporters at the AICC headquarters that Jhala used his BJP connections to attract innocent farmers, pensioners and members of the poor and middle class to invest in his “ponzi scheme,” which promised to double their money in two years.
Gohil displayed Jhala’s photos alongside major BJP figures, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He claimed that these images and photos were sufficient to gain the confidence of innocent investors who put money into his company with the expectation that it would double in two years.
A copy of an invitation card for a Jhala-organised event that featured prominent BJP politicians, including many ministers, MPs and MLAs, was also displayed by the Gujarat PCC president.
“The chief guests at this function were two Gujarat ministers and a Union minister,” he claimed.
Police have not yet been able to track down the mastermind behind the Rs 6000 fraud, according to Gohil. He demanded that the CBI investigate the case under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge.
Gohil Highlights BJP-Linked Crimes
He also highlighted previous instances where senior BJP leaders were implicated in dubious dealings, including the NEET paper leak scandal, where a BJP leader who owns a school in Gujarat was identified as the mastermind. He noted that a DSP from the Gujarat Police had mentioned this in an affidavit.
Additionally, he pointed out that in the Surat drug haul case, the primary supplier and ringleader was revealed to be a BJP leader.
He remarked that the BJP owed the public an explanation as to why its leaders and members were repeatedly exposed as thieves and fraudsters as well as why the party continued to shield and support them.
He questioned how Bhupendra Jhala, a known fraudster, managed to gain such easy access to senior party figures, including Amit Shah, with whom he was even photographed.
Gohil stated that in Gujarat, it is customary for the intelligence department to conduct a pre-event inquiry to verify the credentials of the organiser whenever the Chief Minister or a Minister is required to attend a public event.
He questioned why the Gujarat CID had not cautioned the leaders who attended Jhala’s events and gave him legitimacy, which he then exploited to defraud thousands of people of their hard-earned money.