Mumbai: Demanding a probe into financial activities of a company owned by BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, Robert Vadra, too has been investigated for corruption.
The comparison with Mr. Vadra appeared to be an indirect allegation that the phenomenal rise in Jay’s company’s fortunes might not be investigated as his father is a powerful politician. Mr. Chavan demanded that Mr. Shah resign by taking a cue from three past BJP presidents, who quit following allegations of corruption.
He said, “The financial papers of companies run by Jay Shah are murky and its functioning is much similar to those of shell companies. It is nothing but an example of crony capitalism. Instead of ministers, Jay or Amit Shah should come out with an explanation.”
According to an expose by a news portal, Temple Enterprises, a firm jointly owned by Jay and a partner, has shown a turnover that is 16,000 times more than it was in 2015, the year the BJP came to power at the Centre.
The report also claimed that a stock trading firm owned by Jay had obtained a PSU loan and was into wind power generation.
Mr. Chavan said, “We demand an inquiry into the financial dealings of this company, be it by the ED, CBI or I-T. The Prime Minister must understand that silence is not the best defence in this case.”
Cong. gone berserk: BJP
Coming out in support of Mr. Shah, Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil and Education Minister Vinod Tawde — both BJP MLAs — called a press conference on Monday. Mr. Patil said, “With no issue going against the BJP, the Congress has gone berserk. Prithviraj Chavan spoke like a frustrated Opposition [leader] without understanding facts, on orders from Madam [Sonia Gandhi] in Delhi.”
