Was compelled to purchase MF Husain portray for Rs 2 crore from Gandhis: Rana Kapoor in ED chargesheet

By PTI

MUMBAI: Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor has advised the Enforcement Directorate that he was “forced” to purchase an MF Husain portray from Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the sale proceeds have been utilised by the Gandhi household for the medical therapy of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New York, as per the chargesheet filed by the federal anti-money laundering company in a particular courtroom right here.

Kapoor additionally advised the ED that he was advised by the then petroleum minister Murli Deora that the refusal to purchase the MF Husain portray is not going to solely forestall him from constructing a relationship with the Gandhi household but additionally forestall him from getting the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award.

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The statements of Rana Kapoor are a part of the second supplementary chargesheet (general third) filed within the particular courtroom right here not too long ago in opposition to the Yes Bank co-founder, his household, Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan, and others in a cash laundering case.

Stating that he had paid a cheque of Rs 2 crore, Kapoor claimed that “Milind Deora (son of the late Murli Deora and former Congress MP) later conveyed to him confidentially that the sale proceeds were utilised by the Gandhi family for the medical treatment of Sonia Gandhi in New York”.

Kapoor additionally advised the ED that Ahmed Patel, an in depth confidante of Sonia Gandhi, had advised him that by supporting the Gandhi household at an opportune time for medical therapy of Sonia Gandhi, I (Kapoor) had carried out deed for the household and it could be duly thought of for the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award.

Murli Deora had tried to persuade Rana Kapoor that the refusal to buy the portray may even not allow him ever to construct a relationship with the Gandhi household. It may even forestall him from getting the ‘Padma Bhushan award, as per the chargesheet.

The late Deora had advised Kapoor at dinner that the failure to buy the portray might have “adverse repercussions” on him and Yes Bank, Kapoor has claimed in his assertion to the ED. The banker is at the moment in judicial custody following his arrest within the case in March 2020. “First of all I wish to state that it was a forced sale for which I was never ready,” the chargesheet mentioned concerning the portray Kapoor allegedly bought from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Milind Deora had made a number of visits to his (Rana Kapoor’s) home and workplace to steer him for buying an MF Husain portray from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. “He had even made me several calls and messages also in this regard from multiple mobile numbers. In fact, I was very much reluctant to go for this deal and I had tried also to avoid this deal several times by ignoring his calls/messages and personal meetings,” Kapoor advised the ED, as per the chargesheet.

“Despite my best efforts to avoid this deal they were exceptionally persistent to finalise the deal rapidly,” Kapoor claimed. He additional acknowledged that later, within the yr 2010, Murli Deora compelled him to satisfy him for a vegetarian dinner (Marwari dinner) at his Lodhi Estate Bungalow in New Delhi.

He was Petroleum Minister at the moment and had been allotted this bungalow in that capability, Kapoor mentioned, as per the chargesheet.

“During the meeting, the late Murli Deora told me in no uncertain terms that any further delay in purchasing the above-said painting could have adverse repercussions on me and my Yes Bank and it could jeopardise my relationship with the Deora family,” Kapoor mentioned. “Simultaneously, he had tried to convince me that it will also not permit me ever to build me a relationship with the Gandhi family,” the banker added.

Further, within the assertion, Kapoor claimed, “He (Murli Deora) had also told me that any deviation on my part for the lack of closure of the deal will definitely prevent me from getting awarded the ‘Padma Bhushan’ for which, according to him, I was highly deserving at that time”.

“Under this threat and against my family’s wishes, since we are not high-value Art Collectors, I could not afford to invite any form of enmity with the two powerful families involved and thus I had to hesitatingly proceed given the looming and overhanging threat involved,” Kapoor advised ED, as per the chargesheet.

Kapoor advised the ED that formalities for closing the deal have been held at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s workplace. “Milind Deora had actively coordinated this final closing meeting. I wish to state that for this deal, I had made a payment of Rs 2 crore through a cheque of my personal account in HSBC Bank,” he added.

Kapoor mentioned just a few weeks after the deal, Milind Deora conveyed to him confidentially that the sale proceeds have been utilized by the Gandhi household for the medical therapy of Sonia Gandhi in New York. “After a few months, while I (Kapoor) was visiting the residence of (late) Ahmed Patel, a close confidante of Sonia Gandhi, I was informed independently by him that by supporting the Gandhi family at an opportune time for medical treatment of Sonia Gandhi I had performed a good deed for the family and it would be duly considered for the ‘Padma Bhushan’ to me,” the chargesheet mentioned.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that Rana Kapoor and Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan had siphoned off funds price Rs 5,050 crore by means of suspicious transactions.

The ED had began its investigation after recording ECIR on March 3, 2020, and after the probe started, Rana Kapoor aggressively tried to eliminate his abroad properties to save lots of them from being attachment by the ED underneath PMLA, the cost sheet mentioned.

The POC concerned on this case is Rs 5,050 crore. While Rana Kapoor is the founding father of the mentioned firm particularly DUVPL, his three daughters are 100 per cent shareholders therein. Rana Kapoor is at the moment in judicial custody following his arrest within the case in March 2020.

The Wadhwans too are in jail custody after their arrest in one other case.