Opposition Demands Probe Into Allegations Against Jay Shah

An article in The Wire claimed Jay Shah’s company saw a 16,000-fold increase in turnover after BJP came to power.

Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah with his father and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(Photo: PTI)

The Congress, CPI-M and the AAP on 8 October sought an inquiry into allegations by an article on The Wire, that the turnover of a company linked to Jay Shah, son of BJP president Amit Shah, increased 16,000 times after the BJP secured power at the Centre in 2014.

The BJP rubbished the allegations and Jay Shah issued a statement saying the article carried by the news website made “false, derogatory and defamatory imputations” against him.

The demand from the opposition parties came after a media report, with Congress leader Kapil Sibal, cited filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), saying the turnover of Jay Shah-owned Temple Enterprise increased around 16,000 times over during 2015-16 from around Rs 80 crore in the previous year.

Also Read: Amit Shah’s Son to Sue ‘The Wire’ For Rs 100 Crore: Piyush Goyal

The Congress leader also alleged that Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, a PSU under Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, had given a loan of Rs 10.25 crore to Kusum Finserv, a limited liability partnership or LLP, in which Jay Shah had a 60 percent stake, even though this company had no prior experience of operating in the power sector.

Sibal demanded a probe into allegations, and claimed that it was a case of “crony capitalism”. Referring to the allegations against Jay Shah, Sibal said:

Today, we ask a question to the Prime Minister, the <i>pradhan sevak</i> ... Now, what do you have to say about crony capitalism? Will you give direction to the CBI to probe the matter? Will you ask ED to arrest these people?

Kapil Sibal, Congress Leader

Later in the day, Sibal wondered why Piyush Goyal, a Union minister, had to defend the son of Amit Shah.

From an official platform, Piyush Goyal defended Jay Shah. He should be defending the government.

Kapil Sibal, Congress Leader

He also questioned Goyal's defence of the cooperative bank which had extended the loan to Jay Shah. He said the bank, and not a Union minister, should defend the loan.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Modi-government and commented on the article by saying that Amit Shah’s son was the “only beneficiary” of demonetisation.

Also Read: Govt Lawyer Tushar Mehta May Represent Jay Shah: Report

‘Why Is PM Modi Silent?’

Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh also held a press conference on 8 October and also alleged that Amit Shah’s son rose after the BJP came to power and he became the party chief. The AAP demanded a probe into the matter.

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury took to Twitter and questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent on the issue.

He said that these allegations were the latest in the “series of corruption cases under Modi”.

Trinamool Congress also took a dig at the BJP government, wondering if it would now use CBI or ED to probe the allegations against BJP chief Amit Shah's son, just as it has been quick to use these agencies against other political parties.

BJP ever so quick to use CBI/ED against other political parties. Why not now when it comes to one of their own; son of their party president? Media now needs to be fearless.

Derek O’Brien, TMC Parliamentary Party

(With inputs from IANS, PTI)