A day after senior Congress leader lalatendu Bidyadhar (lulu) Mohapatra charged that Minister Sanjay Dasburma was using a Pajero SUV gifted by the Artha Tatwa (AT) chit fund
company, AT chief Pradip Sethi on Friday said he was yet to receive some of his vehicles used in election campaign in 2014.
“During the 2014 elections, I was requested by some political leaders to lend some vehicles. Many of the vehicles have not been returned to me so far,” arrested Sethi told reporters during his routine appearance at a court here.
Questioned about the allegation of Congress leader Mohapatra, Sethi said the company never gifted vehicles to anybody. “Don’t politicise the issue,” said Sethi. He declined to speak about the vehicles in greater details, saying the matter is sub-judice.“leaders had urged me for vehicles for campaigning during last elections, and I think this is not a crime. However, there are 51 directors of the company and they might have given vehicles to anybody,” said Sethi. At the same time, he maintained that whatever has appeared in the CBI chargesheet is true.
“I have told the CBI everything. Whatever mentioned in the chargesheet filed by the CBI is also true,” said Sethi, who was given a copy of the charge framed on Friday.
Meanwhile, lulu Mohapatra on Friday disclosed the vehicle number used by Minister Dasburma. “It was a green colour Pajero bearing number OR-29-0001. Between 2007 and 09, a Corporation Chairman was using the vehicle having red beacon and Secretariat entry pass,” said Mohapatra, adding that the vehicle was sold in Chhattisgarh later.
He again dared the State police to probe the matter and sought a clarification from the Government in this regard. Dasburma, however, said the vehicle cited by Mohapatra was purchased by him taking loan from Vijaya Bank.