NEW DELHI: Congress on Monday demanded the resignation of Sebi chairperson Madhabi Buch and urged the Supreme Court to transfer the Adani probe to CBI or a special investigation team “given the likelihood of Sebi’s compromise”.
Reiterating its demand that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be convened without delay to investigate the full extent of the scam, Congress leaders threatened to launch a nationwide stir with INDIA bloc parties if its JPC demand was not met.
The party also rejected BJP’s allegation that Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi were trying to create “economic anarchy in the country and destabilise the market”. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told TOI that it was “not even worth responding to such pathetically puerile posturing”.
Commenting on Sebi’s statement on Sunday, Congress said the regulatory body had sought to project an “image of hyperactivity” by citing the large number of summons issued, letters and emails sent out and and documents examined. Ramesh described these as tactics to divert attention from the core issues involved.
Pointing out that the SC had directed Sebi in March last year to “expeditiously conclude the investigation”, the party said, “The fact is that Sebi’s seeming inability to close two of its 24 investigations delayed publication of its findings for over a year.” Ramesh alleged that “this delay conveniently allowed the prime minister to navigate an entire general election without addressing his role in facilitating his close friend’s illicit activities”.
“The illusion that the Sebi chairperson and her husband had separated their finances has been shattered by the revelation that after joining Sebi, she transacted in the fund from her personal email account on Feb 25, 2018,” Ramesh claimed. “Clearly, no institution is sacrosanct in Amrit Kaal. Did the Sebi chairperson recuse herself from the Adani investigations?” he asked.
Speaking to reporters, party general secretary K C Venugopal said, “The PM’s silence on the matter amounts to destruction of credibility. Don’t try to threaten Rahul Gandhi with an ED notice. We will strongly oppose such diversionary tactics.”
Reiterating its demand that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be convened without delay to investigate the full extent of the scam, Congress leaders threatened to launch a nationwide stir with INDIA bloc parties if its JPC demand was not met.
The party also rejected BJP’s allegation that Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi were trying to create “economic anarchy in the country and destabilise the market”. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told TOI that it was “not even worth responding to such pathetically puerile posturing”.
Commenting on Sebi’s statement on Sunday, Congress said the regulatory body had sought to project an “image of hyperactivity” by citing the large number of summons issued, letters and emails sent out and and documents examined. Ramesh described these as tactics to divert attention from the core issues involved.
Pointing out that the SC had directed Sebi in March last year to “expeditiously conclude the investigation”, the party said, “The fact is that Sebi’s seeming inability to close two of its 24 investigations delayed publication of its findings for over a year.” Ramesh alleged that “this delay conveniently allowed the prime minister to navigate an entire general election without addressing his role in facilitating his close friend’s illicit activities”.
“The illusion that the Sebi chairperson and her husband had separated their finances has been shattered by the revelation that after joining Sebi, she transacted in the fund from her personal email account on Feb 25, 2018,” Ramesh claimed. “Clearly, no institution is sacrosanct in Amrit Kaal. Did the Sebi chairperson recuse herself from the Adani investigations?” he asked.
Speaking to reporters, party general secretary K C Venugopal said, “The PM’s silence on the matter amounts to destruction of credibility. Don’t try to threaten Rahul Gandhi with an ED notice. We will strongly oppose such diversionary tactics.”