Congress president Rahul Gandhi, after been accused in scams, has found himself in the centre of another controversial dealing. Joining Rahul Gandhi in the spotlight is his sister Priyanka Vadra. With just a few days remaining for the 2019 general elections, this controversy is all set to further erode Congress’ electoral standing.
In documents accessed by REPUBLIC media network, shocking details of business dealings between Gandhi siblings and one of Jignesh Shah’s companies have emerged. Jignesh Shah was in the spotlight when the 5600 crore NSEL scam broke out. In January this year, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has given its nod to Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to prosecute 71 individuals and companies in the Rs 5,600-crore NSEL scam, including 63 moons, parent of the now-defunct spot exchange, and its founder Jignesh Shah.
The documents accessed by Republic TV reveal that Gandhi siblings had conducted business transactions with one of Jignesh shah companies, involving the ‘Indira Gandhi Farm House’ a 4.6 acre sprawling farm house located in Village Sultanpur, Tehsil Mehrauli, and New Delhi. The Indra Gandhi farm house is jointly owned by the Gandhi siblings and boasts a 1014 feet long compound wall. Which is just valued at Rs 9.86 lakh, as per filings in Rahul Gandhi’s 2009 election affidavit.
The deposit made for the farm house also raises questions. According to the report, the ‘deposit’ paid as part of the lease agreement was an incredible Rs 40,20,000 vide two separate cheques of Rs 20.10 lakh, which is over four times the declared worth of the property in Rahul Gandhi’s 2009 election affidavit. According to the Republic report, one of Jignesh Shah’s companies had signed a lease agreement with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in February of 2013. The CBI in UPA-era was also investigating the NSEL case. The agreement signed between the Gandhi siblings and Jignesh’s firm listed the monthly rent at a whooping Rs 6.70 Lakhs per months. Republic has also accessed documents showing the gross rent paid monthly to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra.
Gulab Nabi Azad reacted to the emergence of this report he said, “The Congress leader does not do business dealings with anyone. Prime Minister and his President are ones who do that, who take business leaders on flights and hold meetings with French ambassadors and give them deals worth Rs 30000 Crore.”
Republic TV in their report has provided with signed and sealed documents indicating towards the business transactions involving Gandhi siblings.
The UPA government, during its first term, had granted an exemption to NSEL through a notification on June 5, 2007, from complying with the provisions of the Forward Contracts Regulation Act. NSEL flourished and allowed trading in contracts, without any regulator overseeing its functioning. The traded contracts were later found to be in alleged violation of conditions under which it was granted the FCRA exemption.