Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has sought a CBI probe on the advice of the police.
A day after the BJP won big in the assembly elections of Haryana and Maharashtra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje recommended a CBI inquiry in the 108 ambulance scam, in which her predecessor Ashok Gehlot and several senior Congress leaders have been named.
The others allegedly involved include state party chief Sachin Pilot, former Union minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram, Ravi Krishna, the son of former minister Vayalar Ravi and former state health minister Duru Mian.
In June, the state police had filed a case against all of them, accusing them of cheating and conspiracy.
"Political pressure evident from first FIR. Police is also under pressure. It's sad. We believe the truth will prevail," said Mr Gehlot.
The scam goes back to 2009 - when Ziqitza Health Care Limited, a company run by Ravi Krishna, had got the tender to run 108 ambulances in Rajasthan, Bihar and Punjab.
The ambulance service was part of the National Rural Health Mission and was a public-private partnership to ensure help for emergency patients.
In March 2012, the BJP alleged that the company was being paid crores of rupees for ambulances that existed only on paper, or for trips that were never made.
An audit report done by the Gehlot government allegedly found huge financial irregularities in the way the ambulances were operated, and losses to the tune of Rs 2.56 crore. But no action was taken on the report.
The issue acquired political overtones as it was found that Mr Pilot and Karti Chidambaram had also been directors in Ziqitza. The BJP had accused the Congress of giving tenders to Jigista because of its political connections. (Read:
BJP alleges ambulance scam in Rajasthan, company linked to two ministers' sons)
"It seems government agencies have started to work at the behest of the BJP and Congress functionaries are being targeted," Mr Pilot had said after the state police filed the case in June. (Read:
Rajasthan Ambulance Scam: FIR Names Pilot, Gehlot, Chidambaram's Son)
The case was being handled by the state's Criminal Investigation Department, which has now advised the chief minister to recommend a CBI inquiry.