‘Baba’ Kirodi Lal Meena Launches Major Attack on Gehlot, Alleges ₹3,000 Crore Benefit to Business Partner

Jaipur: Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, popularly known as ‘Baba,’ launched a scathing attack on the previous Congress government in the Rajasthan Assembly during discussions on agricultural grant demands. He alleged serious irregularities in the state’s warehouse tender process, highlighting a direct connection with former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Alleged Warehouse Tender Scam

Meena claimed that Mumbai-based businessman Maftalal Mohnot, originally from Jodhpur and reportedly a business partner of Ashok Gehlot, along with his companies including Shubham Logistics Ltd, received undue advantages through manipulated tender procedures. According to Meena, tender conditions were reportedly altered two to three times, and attempts were made to obtain relief from the Supreme Court, resulting in an alleged benefit of approximately ₹3,000 crore to these firms.

ACB Investigation Initiated

The minister informed the House that IAS officer Sandeep Verma had written to the authorities between May 2023 and 2024 requesting an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation into the case. The correspondence reportedly pointed to the involvement of the then Chief Minister’s office. Given these allegations of irregularities in the Rajasthan State Warehousing Corporation’s tender process, the current government has decided to register the matter with the ACB for a formal probe.

Action Against Fake Fertilizers and Seeds

Meena also claimed that relatives of Congress leaders and officials were caught producing fake fertilizers and seeds. He listed multiple enforcement actions from Karampur, Suratgarh, Salasar, and Didwana, noting that inspections personally led by him extended from Kishangarh to Karampur. In Bikaner’s Jamsar, around 10,000 unlabeled fertilizer bags were seized, while in Suratgarh, a covert operation recovered 32,000 bags which were later distributed among farmers.

Under departmental action, 11,938 inspections were carried out against illegal, substandard, and unlicensed sellers. Of these, 765 vendors received notices, 169 licenses were suspended, 46 licenses were canceled, and 107 FIRs were registered. This included 28 arrests and 16 challans, while 27 factories were sealed.
“Allegations of irregularities in the tender process are serious. To ensure transparency, the case will be investigated by the ACB.”
— Dr. Kirodi Lal Meena, Agriculture Minister, Rajasthan

Crop Insurance Scam Allegations

The minister further alleged a ₹500 crore scam in the crop insurance scheme during the previous government’s tenure. He claimed that cooperative societies submitted fake beneficiary data to claim premiums fraudulently. The scam reportedly affected more than ten districts, and bank officials are currently verifying accounts. Meena added that ₹6,517 crore has been paid to eligible farmers so far, including ₹830 crore pending from the previous government’s period. Banks have formed separate teams to prevent fraudulent claims.