New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) Intensifying the attack against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley , Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday charged the minister of “collusion, connivance and collaboration” with the absconding diamantaires Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi, accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud case, and demanded that Mr Jaitley must resign.
In a post on twitter, Mr Gandhi alleged that the Finance Minister’s “daughter was on the payroll of thief Mehul Choksi and Mr Jaitley sat on the file and allowed the businessman to flee’.
Mr Gandhi also quoted an account number and claimed that it’s the account in which Mr Jaitley’s daughter received the money.
“Arun Jaitlie’s daughter was on the payroll of thief Mehul Choksi. Meanwhile her FM daddy sat on his file and allowed him to flee. She received money from ICICI a/c no: 12170500316”, he tweeted.
Lamenting that the media had 'blacked out' the story, Rahul said the people of the country would not do so.
“It’s sad that media has blacked out this story” added, “the people of India wont,'Rahul tweeted.
Earlier in the day Congress leaders Sachin Pilot, Rajeev Satav and Sushmita Dev alleged that Choksi-owned Gitanjali jewelers had engaged the Finance Minister’s daughter Sonali Jaitley and son-in-law Jayesh Bakshi’s legal firm, Jaitley Associates, for Rs 24 lakh.
“However, they severed the contract and returned Rs 24 lakh when Mr Choksi escaped from the country”, alleged Mr Pilot in a press conference here.
He also said that the Prime Minister and Finance Minister were attempting to save money launderers and added that “they gave them a clear path. Almost Rs 53,000 crores have been laundered. People who talk about protecting the nation have let Mallya, Nirav Modi and Choksi run away with people’s money.'
“The important question here is why were these fraudsters defended by the people who are connected to the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre,' Mr Pilot asserted.
He had alleged that Vijay Mallya, too, met Mr Jaitley before fleeing to London.
Ms Dev also pointed out that besides others, a complaint was received, from one Mr Hari Prasad, on July 26, 2016 by Prime Minister’s Office and acknowledged by it , which categorically stated that Choksi was in the process to defraud banks and flee the country.
However, she alleged that during January this year, Nirav Modi, Choksi and Choksi’s wife left the country with the help of government.
The Mahila Congress president said it was proved beyond doubt that Ms Jaitley’s firm received 24 lacs from Choksi’s company and added that “though the Prime Minister’s office, Finance Minister and all investigating agencies knew that there were serious allegations against Choksi, Jaitley associates received 24 lakhs from them.'
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