The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday accused former Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta and its ex-national vice president Shyam Jaju of amassing properties (worth crores) disproportionate to their known sources of income when the former was the mayor of the erstwhile North Delhi civic body. The AAP leaders have asked the Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to order the probe against Gupta by the Anti-Corruption Branch and CBI for misusing his position as MCD Mayor.
Gupta, however, termed the allegations “false and politically motivated”. Reacting to the allegations, Gupta said he will file a defamation case against Saurabh Bhardwaj. “They have a history of making false allegations and then rendering apology to BJP after defamation cases later on,” he said
The AAP’s chief spokesperson and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said the Lokayukta is conducting a probe into the allegation of disproportionate assets against Gupta.
“Despite the Lokayukta issuing notices multiple times, Adesh Gupta did not declare his source of income. The company promoted by the sons of Gupta and Jaju is under scanner for allegedly using it as a vehicle to aid financial wrongdoings,” he claimed during a press conference.
Bhardwaj claimed that a complaint with the Lokayukta has claimed that Gupta got the company incorporated while he was the North Delhi MCD mayor and his earnings are disproportionate to his declared sources of income.
AAP leader said that according to the report of Assistant Director Investigation, transactions worth crores have been found in the company held by sons of Gupta and Shayam Jaju. The Lt Governor should also write a letter to the Anti Corruption Branch and CBI about how these properties were bought and sold. The Centre should take up a detailed investigation of the case to prove whether it believes in the principle of ‘no corruption’ or not,” Bharadwaj said.
He said, “These transactions include but are not limited to - the purchase of a property in 33/18 West Patel Nagar, by Yash Gupta, Rajat Gupta and Anuradha Gupta - the sons and wife of Gupta. The purchase of a property in 28/160 West Patel Nagar by Gupta on 15th July 2019. The purchase of a property in 29/30 West Patel Nagar by Anuradha Gupta. The sale of a property in 33/18 West Patel Nagar by Majboot Solutions Pvt Ltd was held by the sons of Gupta and Shyam Jaju in January 2021. Then the sale of another property in 33/18 West Patel Nagar took place by Majboot Solutions, a few days later in February 2021. Then another sale at the same site by the same company materialized a few weeks later in March, and another sale in June 2021.
He added, “Of the 14 transactions detailed by the complainant, 13 have been found to be related to Gupta or the company held by the sons of Gupta and Shyam Jaju.