Mumbai, Aug 31 (UNI) Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi “categorically explain what is going on” in the light of fresh allegations against the Adani Group and sought a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the accusations.
Addressing a press conference here ahead of the I.N.D.I.A alliance meeting, Gandhi presented the clippings of two foreign newspapers – The Guardian and Financial Times – on Adani and said the publications have raised serious questions about the Group with evidence that needs a detailed probe.
Reading aloud the headlines of the two newspapers, he said “These newspapers have stated clearly that over USD 1 billion dollars of money went from India, was circulated in different places through network of Adani Group companies, and then came back to India. It is clearly proved with the documentation that they have.
“So, the question arises, whose money is this… Adaniji’s or someone else’s?” he asked.
The reports were based on fresh allegations brought against the Adani Group by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Gandhi said.
The former Congress chief demanded a JPC be formed and a thorough investigation carried out to probe the allegations against the business conglomerate.
“I don’t understand why the Prime Minister is not forcing an investigation. Why is he quiet? Why doesn’t he say that he is going to make sure that this issue is investigated and the people who are responsible are put behind bars? This is raising a very serious question on the Indian Prime Minister just before the G20 leaders come here,” said Gandhi.
The OCCRP report alleged that “opaque” Mauritius funds were used to funnel substantial investments into the publicly traded stocks of the Adani Group, purportedly masking the involvement of business partners associated with the Adani family.
Gandhi demanded that PM Modi clear up the issue before the G20 leaders arrive for the summit which will be held in New Delhi on September 9 and 10.
“They (G20 leaders) are going to be asking what is this special company that is owned by a gentleman close to the PM and why is it that in an economy like India, this gentleman is being given a free ride?” said the Congress MP.
Iterating that the newspapers which carried the allegations impact investment in the country, he said “These are not random newspapers. These newspapers affect investment in India and the perception of India in the rest of the world.”
Referring to the newspaper reports, he said: “The mastermind behind this is a gentleman called Vinod Adani who is the brother of Gautam Adani. There are two other people who are involved in this round-tripping of money.
“One is a gentleman called Nasir Ali Shaban Ali and another is a Chinese gentleman called Chang Chung Ling”, he said.
“So, the question arises – why are these two foreign nationals being allowed to play with the valuation of one of the companies that control almost all of the Indian infrastructure”, Rahul Gandhi added.
“The gentleman who conducted SEBI investigation and gave a clean chit to Adani Group is now a director of a media company owned by the same group”, the Congress leader claimed.
