In a blistering attack against Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi over the Settlement Commission “slapping” a penalty of Rs56.75 crore in a case of alleged tax evasion, the BJP on Tuesday said his claim of documents being destroyed by a termite attack is “highly ridiculous” and was a matter of grave concern.
“Singhvi has no document to back these expenses. He says that the documents were eaten away by termites. Sadly, those who destroyed the economy of the country acting as “Corrupt Termites” are trying to shift the blame to the ‘poor real termites”, quipped BJP spokesman Sambit Patra.
Patra said the Congress should take a view of the corruption and disown his leader. The BJP leader said Singhvi can not escape by describing it a case of political vendetta as the issue was taken up when Pranab Mukherjee was the Finance Minister, investigated during Chidimabaram’s tenure in Finance Ministry, and the probe had come to a conclusion only now.
“This is only the tip of the Ice Berg. The country is well aware of the fact that many tall leaders of Congress have stashed black money not only abroad but also at home. law will surely take its course but will Congress punish Abhishek Manu SinghviIJ” he said.
“This is a classic case of how the black money is produced within the country by the tall leaders of the Congress. The Congress has lot to answer. We condemn it,” said Patra.
“The kind of report that the Settlement Commission today has submitted as far as the tax evasion by Singhvi is concerned is a matter of grave concern. We have seen as to how Singhvi has no documentary proof to back as to where he spent his money. And today he says that all the documentary evidences have been destroyed by a termite attack, this is highly ridiculous,” he added.
Refusing to accept this, the Settlement Commission has added over Rs91.95 crore to his declared professional income and slapped a penalty of Rs56.67 crore, he said
Pata said when the names of black money holders were declared by the Centre on the floor of the Supreme Court, Congress spokesperson Singhvi had quoted a Hindi saying ‘khoda pahad nikli chuhiya’ (mountain was dug just to obtain a mice). But today we can say that ‘mountain’ of Singhvi’s personal corruption has been exposed, he said.
The BJP leader said that in a short time frame between January 15 2011 to March, 31, 2011 there has been substantial increase in payments to legal assistance.
“In this short span of about two-and-a-half months about 18,199 vouchers were signed by Singhvi. On a single day, March 31, 2011, about 1,207 vouchers were signed. All these are self made vouchers. No authentic bills have been procured,” Patra further said.
The BJP spokesman said on February 28, 2012, Rs5 crore was spent on laptops given to legal assistants. “Singhvi’s salary sheet shows that he had employed 14 advocates/professionals to assists him, he would have to purchase 1,250 laptops (at Rs40,000 each) to account for the amount under the head,” he quipped.