Revelations of Modi Gate scandal by Jairam Ramesh

“Multiple layers of murky financial dealings, willful lies, unearthing of secret documents, non-disclosure of personal and business interests and patent conflict of interest of top most BJP leadership including Foreign Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan BJP CM, Smt. Vasundhara Raje in ‘Modigate scandal’ stand unequivocally proved. Brazen denial of three contradictory affidavits qua educational qualification of Education Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani and naked protection of Maharashtra Minister, Ms Pankaja Munde in the ‘Procurement Scam’ of ICDS is equally appalling. Not only is the entire Nation demanding decisive action to sack these Ministers/Chief Minister but these demands are now being echoed prominently from within the BJP- be it the remarks of BJP MP & former Home Secretary, Shri R.K.

Singh. 

On April 21, 2014; Shri Narendra Modi, while speaking about corruption made a promise to people that, “I will not discriminate in it. I will not spare even the BJP and NDA candidates”. On 14th June, 2014 again, Shri Narendra Modi tweeted – “@narendramodi: Time has come to take tough decisions in the interest of the nation. Whatever decisions we take will be solely guided by national interest.”

Magnitude of quid pro quo, financial relationship between Rajasthan CM and her fugitive friend and partner Lalit Modi are getting unearthed everyday. Entire Nation witnessed the grossly anti-National act of giving an affidavit dated 18.08.2011 by Smt. Vasundhara Raje in favour of a fugitive – Lalit Modi to seek residence in UK away from the reach of Indian authorities and law. On the first day i.e. 17th June, Rajasthan CM denied knowledge of the document. On the second day, Rajasthan CM denied having seen the document. On the third day, Rajasthan CM stated that document does not have signatures. Finally, documents with signature was produced forcing her to admit her signatures.

 

Entire Nation witnessed blatant violation of Government Financial Rules (GFR), Codal Formalities and all laid down procedures of financial tendering and administrative propriety by Rajasthan CM to help the Portuguese Medical Facility that was treating Lalit Modi’s wife. Health Department of Government of Rajasthan signed an MoU dated 2nd October, 2014 (within weeks of Smt. Swaraj arranging travel documents for Lalit Modi to go to Lisbon, Portugal for his wife’s alleged treatment in the same hospital) with the said medical facility i.e. Champalimaud Foundation giving them 8.7 acres of prime land of Government for free as also Government agreeing to bear the entire cost of civil construction, machines, equipment, medical/para-medical/administrative staff.

 

Nation also witnessed the manner in which Lalit Modi’s company Ananda Heritage Hotels Private Limited (AHHPL) got Rs.21.08 crore from a Mauritius based fictitious company M/s Wilton Investment and then Lalit Modi through his company AHHPL) invested the same i.e. Rs.3.80 crore through unsecured loan and Rs.7.83 crore through purchase of 815 shares in Smt. Vasundhara Raje’s company i.e. Niyant Heritage Hotel Private Limited (NHHPL).

 

Election affidavit submitted by Smt. Vasundhara Raje in 2013 (copy of which is available on EC website) reflects that she owns 3280 shares, her son Dushyant and daughter-in-law Niharika own about 3225 shares each and Lalit Modi’s company AHHPL owns 815 shares establishing the financial relationship, partnership and investment of oversees money from a tax heaven.

Further documents available in public domain now reflect that Niyant Heritage Hotel Private Limited (NHHPL) owns and runs a high-end luxury hotel in Dholpur,



Rajasthan. Shockingly, Smt. Vasundhara Raje and her family as also Lalit Modi have constructed this hotel on property and land owned by Government of Rajasthan. They have invested a huge amount in the property running into crores of rupees. Following may be perused:-

 

(i)        On 10.04.1954, Dholpur Riyasat (also known as ‘Matsya’) merged with Union of India in Independent India. As per letter issued by Ministry of States, Government of India, list of private properties of the then Ruler of Dholpur State i.e. Rana Udaibhan Singh (grand father-in-law of Smt. Vasundhara Raje) was decided. (Copy attached as Annexure A-1 to the press-release). Dholpur Palace and the land it is built on was not included or described as personal property of Rana Udaibhan Singh.

 

This fact is also admitted by none less than Shri Hemant Singh (husband of Smt. Vasundhara Raje) in court in an inter-party litigation. In para-2 of a written statement dated 14.11.1980 filed before court, Shri Hemant Singh stated as follows:-

 

 “After the merger of Dholpur Riyasat, City Palace, Dholpur was declared as owned by government”.

 

Copy of Shri Hemant Singh’s written statement is attached as Annexure A-2 to the press-release.

 

Even Smt. Vasundhara Raje herself had admitted this fact in an affidavit dated 11.08.2005 filed in Civil Suit No. 222 of 2003 titled ‘Dushyant Singh vs. Hemant Singh’. In para-18, she had stated as follows:-

 

 “18. That after 22.10.1954, no property was declared as private property by Government of India. That vide letter dated 10.4.1954, all properties of Maharaja Rana Udaibhan Singh were declared as his family or ancestral properties during his life time”.

 

(ii)       That Jamabandi for Samvat 2012 (year 1955) reflects this property as ‘Raj Mahal’ comprised in Khasra No. 490. A copy of this Jamabandi is attached as Annexure A-3 to the press release.

 

Consolidation took place in Samvat 2028 (year 1971). Khasra Number of the property changed from No. 490 to 875. A copy of the certificate reflecting this change of khasra number of the property is attached as Annexure A-4 to the press release.

 

(iii)     That even post-consolidation, revenue record i.e. Jamabandi of the property shows the property as ‘Property of Government of Rajasthan’ in Khasra No. 875. Copy of Jamabandi for the Samvat 2034 (year 1977) is attached as Annexure A-5 to the press release.

 

Even the latest Jamabandi for Samvat 2067 (year 2010) reflects the Dhaulpur City Palace comprised in Khasra No. 875 (45Bighas-1Biswa) as ‘Government property’. A copy of this Jamabandi for 2010 is also attached as Annexure A-6 to this press release.

           

(iv)      Despite such clear evidence of Dholpur City Palace and land being the property of Government of Rajasthan, Smt. Vasundhara Raje as also Lalit Modi proceeded to convert the same into a high-end private luxury hotel, which is currently being run by their company under the name and style of ‘Niyant Heritage Hotel Private Limited’. Current value of Dholpur City Palace and the land on which it is situated, itself runs into hundreds of crores.

 

These facts conclusively establish not only the financial dealings, partnership, joint ownership of Niyant Heritage Hotel Private Limited between Smt. Vasundhara Raje and the Indian fugitive – Lalit Modi but also prove conversion and misappropriation of a Government property for running a hotel by NHHPL.”