‘Raje and Lalit Modi have direct financial dealings’

Rajasthan CM conspired to convert govt property into hotel: Congress

By (PTI, IANS)

Published: Tue 30 Jun 2015, 9:16 PM

Last updated: Wed 8 Jul 2015, 2:59 PM

New Delhi — The Congress on Monday said Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had “direct financial dealings” with Indian Premier League’s (IPL) former chief Lalit Modi and a company owned by them was managing a public property as a private property.

“Niyant Private Limited, owned by Raje, her son Dushyant Singh, daughter-in-law Niharaika Singh and Lalit Modi, has taken possession of a Rajasthan government’s property, converted it into a private high-end luxury hotel and invested over Rs1 billion,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said here in a Press conference. Ramesh alleged that Dholpur Palace is now being run by Niyant Heritage Private Limited.

“A joint venture company is running Niyant Heritage Private Properties Limited, which is running Dholpur Palace,” he said.

Showing the Rajasthan government’s documents, Ramesh said these conclusively establish that Dholpur Palace was never a private property of the Dholpur royal family. “Do you need any document to prove 24, Akbar Road is owned by All India Congress Committee?” Ramesh said when a reporter asked if he meant Niyant had captured Dholpur Palace.

Ramesh said that Raje in her 2013 assembly poll affidavit had admitted having shares of the Niyant Heritage Hotels Pvt Ltd along with her MP son Dushyant Singh and daughter-in-law Niharika, and Lalit Modi.

“The election affidavit reflects that she own 3280 shares, her son and daughter-in-law about 3225 shares each and Lalit Modi’s company Ananda Heritage Hotels Pvt Ltd 815 shares, establishing the financial relationship, partnership and investment of overseas money from a tax haven,” he said.

He said it proved her business partnership with the former IPL chief, who is now a “fugitive”.

The Congress leader alleged that Lalit Modi had used the “Mauritius route” to invest in the company.

He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as “Swami Maunendra Baba” for his continued silence over the Lalitgate issue. Congress has been demanding resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Raje over Lalitgate, of HRD Minister Smriti Irani over misrepresenting facts about her educational qualification in separate election affidavits and of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde for her alleged involvement in a “scam” by clearing purchases worth Rs2.06 billion on a single day instead of inviting tenders in violation of the norms.