Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, April 24: Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that he was forced to buy a M F Husain painting from Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, according to a chargesheet filed by the federal anti-money laundering agency in a special court. He also said that the sale proceeds were used by the Gandhi family for Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s medical treatment in New York.
Kapoor further told the ED that the then-petroleum minister, Murli Deora, advised him that refusing to buy the M F Husain artwork would prevent him from not only forging a relationship with the Gandhi family, but also from receiving the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award.
Rana Kapoor’s comments are included in the second additional chargesheet (overall third) filed in the special court here recently in a money laundering case against the Yes Bank co-founder, his family, Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan, and others.
Kapoor stated that after paying a cheque for Rs. 2 crore, ‘Milind Deora (son of the late Murli Deora and former Congress MP) later revealed to him confidentially that the sale proceeds were used by the Gandhi family for Sonia Gandhi’s medical care in New York.’
Kapoor also told the ED that Ahmed Patel, a close confidante of Sonia Gandhi, told him that by supporting the Gandhi family at an opportune time for Sonia Gandhi’s medical treatment, he (Kapoor) had done a good deed for the family and that he (Kapoor) would be duly considered for the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award.
Murli Deora sought to persuade Rana Kapoor that refusing to buy the picture would prevent him from ever developing a relationship with the Gandhi family. According to the chargesheet, it will also bar him from receiving the ‘Padma Bhushan award.’
Notably, the banker is currently in judicial custody following his arrest in the case in March 2020. Rana Kapoor and Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan are accused of syphoning off funds worth Rs 5,050 crore through dubious transactions, according to the Enforcement Directorate.
This case involves a POC of 5,050 crore. While Rana Kapoor is the creator of the aforementioned company, DUVPL, his three daughters own 100% of the company. Rana Kapoor was arrested in the case in March 2020 and is currently in judicial detention. The Wadhwans are also in custody after being arrested in a separate case.
