New Delhi: Senior BJP leader and Union minister Smriti Irani on Thursday demanded an explanation from Congress president Rahul Gandhi over party leader Kapil Sibal’s alleged land dealing with businessman Piyoosh Goyal who was investigated by the CBI in 2013 for alleged bribery.
Vehemently denying the allegations levelled by Ms Irani, former Union minister Sibal also threatened to file a defamation suit against news website opindia.com, which was cited by the BJP leader.
Admitting that he had purchased land from his own money which was not in dispute, he said the transaction was listed in his and his company’s income tax filings.
At a hurriedly convened press conference, Sibal said he was saddened that the minister was making such allegations instead of talking about the grave issue of the CBSE paper leak and data leak. She also cited a South African media report, which alleged that the businessman was involved in money laundering.
“Yes, I brought the company. Does anyone have objections? I gave the money from my income, which is tax paid and the income-tax returns are filed up to date,” he told reporters. Mr Sibal also asked Irani whether she would ask the Prime Minister “why he is so close to Mehul bhai, who is a money launderer”.
“Does she ask the Prime Minister why Nirav Modi is photographed with him in Davos, who is also allegedly a money launderer,” he asked.
Citing the media report, Ms Irani on Thursday alleged that Mr Sibal and his wife bought a company called Grand Castilo from Goyal in 2017 while the UPA government was investigating the businessman for bribery.
“People might say that Mr Sibal has a right to buy and engage with the so-called alleged money launderer, the question I pose is — is it politically acceptable to Rahul Gandhi,” Ms Irani asked. She further attacked the opposition party asking “Is it so natural for the Congress leadership today to embrace the money launderer, to shake hand with those that they had investigated for bribery.”
The media report had mentioned that the company had no business in financial year 2013-14 and commenced purchase of a piece of land, which eventually cost Rs 45.21 crore.
