BIKANER, June 9 -- The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) widened its probe into alleged fake seed bribery case on Sunday, arresting four more people, including a personal assistant of a MLA, as raids were conducted across Bikaner division and Jaipur. Those arrested people -- Satpalsingh Jat, Sunil Kumar Setia, Kapadiya Kiranbhai Narayanbhai and Ganpat Ram Bishnoi -- were produced before the Special ACB Court in Bikaner. Bishnoi, a resident of Godelai village in Balotra district and reportedly the personal assistant (PA) of MLA Pabba Ram Bishnoi, was arrested from the legislator's residence in Jaipur. However, the ACB has not officially indicated any direct role of the MLA in the case. The fresh arrests came a day after the ACB nabbed Rajasthan State Seed Corporation Director Jugal Kishore Bishnoi and his nephew Swatantra Kumar Jiyani. Jiyani, originally from Rawla Mandi in Sri Ganganagar district, was arrested after the bureau intercepted a bus near Lunkaransar in Bikaner district and allegedly recovered around Rs.85 lakh in cash that was being transported towards Sri Ganganagar. Subsequent searches at the residence of Bishnoi, a resident of Bichhwal in Bikaner, led to the recovery of another Rs. 1.59 crore, taking the total seizure in the case to nearly Rs.2.44 crore. According to the ACB, the investigation revolves around alleged irregularities involving "Gajraj" brand groundnut seeds. Investigators suspect that attempts were made to influence the inquiry, suppress official action, manipulate laboratory reports, and facilitate the transportation of allegedly substandard or fake seeds back to Gujarat. The ACB alleges that bribes were paid in exchange for favourable action, including getting laboratory samples cleared, restarting the sale of the seeds in the market, and managing departmental proceedings through officials and private individuals. The bureau has claimed that nearly Rs.1.20 crore was allegedly received by Jugal Kishore Bishnoi in connection with the matter, while another Rs.60 lakh was allegedly received by Ganpat Ram Bishnoi. Officials believe the investigation could expose a wider network involving- political leaders, private businessmen, intermediaries, and officials associated with the seed certification and distribution process. Meanwhile, the alleged fake seed bribery scandal widened politically on Monday, with former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra demanding a high-level probe and raising questions over the role of senior officials and the Agriculture Department. In a post on X, Gehlot described the Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) crackdown on the alleged multi-crore fake seed bribery racket in the Agriculture Department and Rajasthan State Seed Corporation as "deeply alarming." He alleged that officials who were publicly accompanying Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena during raids against fake seeds were, in reality, running a syndicate involved in extortion, blackmail, and illegal collections. Gehlot said the case appeared to have links extending "to very high levels" and argued that such large-scale corruption could not have occurred without high-level protection. He urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to order an impartial, high-level investigation into the entire nexus, including the possible role of Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena, so that the truth could emerge before the public. Echoing the attack, Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra alleged that a "loot and extortion racket" was operating under the protection of the BJP government. Referring to the ACB's arrest of Rajasthan State Seed Corporation Director Jugal Kishore Bishnoi and his relative Swatantra Jiyani in the Rs 2.43-crore bribery case, Dotasra claimed that the accused officials had accompanied the Agriculture Minister during raids in Bikaner, Sikar, Jodhpur, Bhilwara and Sri Ganganagar. He alleged that reports were emerging of extortion worth crores of rupees in the name of enforcement action in places such as Jodhpur and Sujangarh. Dotasra further claimed that allegations of collections amounting to nearly Rs 500 crore through raids, threats and intimidation had surfaced, and questioned whether the money trail extended to higher levels of the government. He demanded a fair and independent investigation into the entire episode, stating that the case was not merely about corruption but also a betrayal of farmers' trust. Reacting to the allegations, Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena said that he was ready to face any legal action if any wrongdoing on his part is established. "If even a small role of mine comes out, I want to tell the ACB that I am ready to surrender before the law. I am dedicated to the people, and whatever action I have taken in public interest will continue-whether it is against pesticides, fertilizers or seeds, all in the interest of farmers," he said....