Jaipur: A court decision that could impact Sachin Pilot's fight against the Congress will be announced on Friday. Until that decision, the Rajasthan Speaker will defer action against Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebel MLAs, the High Court said today. Team Pilot has challenged disqualification notices served by the Speaker last week for "anti-party activities".
There is nothing to show the Rajasthan Speaker "applied his mind" while serving disqualification notices to Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress rebel MLAs, senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi argued today in the Rajasthan High Court. As the court heard team Pilot's challenge to the notices served last week for "anti-party activities", Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held the third meeting with Congress MLAs at a resort in Jaipur, where he is guarding his flock against what he alleges is a conspiracy against his government.
On Monday, Mr Gehlot sharpened its attack on Sachin Pilot, with the Chief Minister calling him "useless" and another loyalist alleging that the dissident Congress leader himself offered him crores to switch sides.
Mr Pilot reacted sharply, saying he will take the MLA to court.
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat confirmed he has received a notice from Rajasthan police, after the Congress claimed he figures in audio clips suggesting a "conspiracy" to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan.
The BJP had earlier demanded a CBI inquiry into "illegal" phone-tapping by the state government. But, in what could be a move to pre-empt it, the state government has withdrawn its "general consent" to the agency to investigate criminal cases.
Here are the Live Updates on Rajasthan Political Crisis:
Jul 21, 2020 14:09 (IST)
CBI Questions Ashok Gehlot's Aide Over Cop Suicide Amid Political Crisis
The CBI today questioned the Officer on Special Duty to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in connection with the death allegedly by suicide of a police officer in May. Congress MLA Krishna Poonia, who was questioned yesterday by the agency in connection with the case, too has been called for another round of questioning later today.
The CBI questioning comes at a time when Ashok Gehlot's government faces a political storm after Sachin Pilot's rebellion and his subsequent sacking as Deputy Chief Minister and the chief of the Congress unit of Rajasthan.
Deva Ram Saini, the Officer on Special Duty to the Rajasthan Chief Minister, was called to the probe agency's office in Jaipur where he was questioned for over two hours. A team of special crime unit of the CBI from Delhi is in Jaipur to record statements as part of investigation into the police officer's death.
Jul 21, 2020 11:12 (IST)
Rajasthan Police Chief Writes To Haryana, Delhi, Seeks Cooperation In "Horse-Trading" Probe
Rajasthan Police chief today wrote to his Haryana and Delhi counterparts to seek cooperation in ongoing allgations of bribe to some of the state MLAs in order to topple the government.
Jul 21, 2020 07:55 (IST)
Omar Abdullah Threatens To Sue Over Congress Leader Bhupesh Baghel's Sachin Pilot Dig
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today threatened legal action against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for implying that Congress rebel Sachin Pilot's moves were linked to he and his father being released from detention in Kashmir earlier this year.