Sachin Pilot has led an open revolt in Rajasthan's Congress unit.
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 But, in what could be a move to pre-empt it, the state government has withdrawn its "general consent" to the agency to investigate criminal cases.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:
Rajasthan Crisis: Rajasthan Cops' Hunt For "Wanted" Sachin Pilot MenFive days after embarking on its mission, a team of the Rajasthan police has said it has not been able to locate two MLAs who are in Sachin Pilot's entourage and whose voice samples are needed to determine if they are, as alleged by their party, the Congress, caught on tapes discussing bribes to bring down the government in Rajasthan.
Order On Friday, Sachin Pilot Gets Relief Till ThenA 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". 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.
Read Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken Attend Congress Meet In RajasthanChief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress leader Ajay Maken, state unit president Govind Singh Dotasara and others at Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting currently going on at Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur.
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.
Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken Attend Congress Meet In RajasthanChief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress leader Ajay Maken, state unit president Govind Singh Dotasara and others at Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting currently going on at Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur.
"Speaker Gave 3 Days To Reply Amid Covid": Rajasthan Rebels To High CourtThere is nothing on record 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.
Read Rajasthan Top Cop Writes Letter To Counterpart In HaryanaThe Rajasthan police today wrote to Haryana and Delhi police "seeking cooperation" after drawing a blank in their search for rebel MLAs accused of conspiring to bring down the Congress government of Ashok Gehlot.
A team of the Rajasthan police Special Operations Group went to two resorts near Delhi where rebel MLAs in Sachin Pilot's camp have been staying for over a week, but came back empty-handed.
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.
Rajasthan Action Today - 3rd Congress Meet, Court Battle: 10 PointsA meeting of Rajasthan Congress MLAs this morning at the resort where they have been sequestered for over a week has kept up speculation that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is inclined towards a floor test. His challenger Sachin Pilot and his team of rebels have an important day in court today. The Rajasthan High Court is hearing a petition by Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebel Congress MLAs challenging disqualification notices served to them last week for "anti-party activities".
Read 2 Rebel Congress MLAs Asked To Appear Before Rajasthan Anti-Corruption BodyThe Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday issued notices to dissident Congress MLAs Bhanwarlal Sharma and Vishvendra Singh, asking them to appear before it within three days for investigation into an alleged plot to topple the state government.
The ACB had registered an FIR against Bhanwarlal under the Prevention of Corruption Act on July 17 in connection with the audio tapes, which allegedly indicate a plot to bring down the Congress government in the state.
Vishvendra Singh, who was earlier removed from the state Cabinet, has too been summoned for investigation with regard to the audio tapes.
Read 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.