Nirav Modi fraud case: 'Original sin' committed during UPA tenure, alleges BJP

NEW DELHI: Mounting a scathing attack on the Congress party over the Nirav Modi fraud case , the BJP today claimed that the "original sin" was committed during the tenure of the erstwhile UPA regime in 2011.


The saffron party said the Congress, which has laid the blame for the Rs 11,800 crore scam squarely on the NDA government, has a track record in corruption and was now attempting to mislead people with false allegations.

"Congress indulges in such scandalous affairs, misuses important positions in government, then quietly covers up everything they do. Instead of explaining how it happened during their period, they're casting allegations. Original sin in this episode of Nirav Modi was committed in 2011," senior BJP leader and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman told mediapersons at a press briefing.



Armed with a sheaf of documents, Sitharaman alleged that senior UPA functionaries, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, had promoted and benefited from the scam, in which billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi are prime suspects.

"Gitanjali Gems was suspended for 6 months from doing business on NSE in 2013. On 13 Septemeber 2013, Rahul Gandhi attends a promotion event of this jewellery group. On 15 September 2013, a proposal of restructuring and giving additional loans to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore to the same jewellery group is mooted in Allahabad Bank board meeting. Join the dots," said Sitharaman.

She further pointed out that Anita Singhvi, wife of Congress leader A M Singhvi, was a director of one of the private holding firms which has dealing with Nirav Modi's jewellery company in Mumbai.

"You promote Geetanjali Gems, give them building on lease, your wife is a Director and accuse us of wrong-doing. Despite the clear link with them, Congress party has the audacity to point fingers at BJP!" Sitharaman railed.

PNB's disclosure on Wednesday that it had suffered massive fraud has sparked a widening probe involving the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Income Tax Department has also extended a probe into Modi and his group companies, looking into possible tax evasion and suspected investment of illegal funds

The Union minister assured that the government was leaving no stone unturned to ensure the accused are brought to book.

"The entire might of the government has been invoked to pin the culprit Nirav Modi in the fraud case immediately after it came to light. Nirav Modi may have been able to run away from the country but government is taking action against him," Sitharaman said.

Earlier in the day, the Congress stepped up its attack on the ruling party at the Centre for India's biggest "bank loot scam", accusing the government of deliberately looking the other way while the embezzlers fled the country to evade arrest.

Meanwhile, the CBI has arrested two officials of Punjab National Bank, including a now retired deputy manager, and an authorised signatory of Nirav Modi's company in connection with alleged fraudulent transactions to the tune of over Rs 11,000 crore.

The arrests came after a money laundering case was registered against Modi and his associates, following a complaint by Punjab National Bank last month.

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