Congress seeks JPC probe into Adani row

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday set the tone for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) here as he demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the fresh allegations of irregularities in the Adani Group’s use of offshore funds, and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “uncomfortable silence” claiming that India’s reputation is at stake.

The remarks from the Congress leader came after the OCCRP (Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) report alleged that “opaque” funds were used to funnel substantial investments into the publicly traded stocks of the Adani Group, purportedly masking the involvement of business partners associated with the Adani family.
The Adani Group has rejected the OCCRP report alleging stock manipulation.

Addressing a press conference here ahead of the two-day INDIA bloc meeting, which is being attended by over 60 leaders from 28 parties, Rahul Gandhi said, “There was an investigation… evidence was given to SEBI but it gave a clean chit to (Gautam) Adani. The gentleman who gave clean chit to Adani is today a Director in NDTV. It is very clear that there is something very wrong here.”

“We are trying to show the world that ‘we are a transparent economy’. We are trying to show the world that India has a level-playing field,” he said.

Firing salvos at the Central government, Rahul Gandhi said, “Why is this one gentleman who is close to the Prime Minister allowed to move a billion dollars to pump up his share price, to use that money to capture Indian assets, airports, ports? Why no investigation is taking place?