Patel, Scindia among richest ministers in India

Defence Minister A K Antony and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee have total assets of nearly Rs 100,000 and Rs 600,000 respectively in contrast to their colleagues like Praful Patel and Jyotiraditya Scindia who own assets of over Rs 25 crore (Rs 250 million).

Antony, a Rajya Sabha member, neither has any property in his name nor does he own any vehicle. In his name, there are two bank accounts with State Bank of India which have Rs 101,000 and Rs 16,919 as of June 15, 2009.

The asset details furnished by Antony show that the three-time Kerala chief minister does not have any liabilities. His wife Elizabeth Antony had a house worth Rs 15 lakh (Rs 1.5 million) and five cents of land worth Rs 15 lakh. She also has Rs 319,000 in her name in three bank accounts.

His colleague Mamata Banerjee also lives a modest lifestyle. She neither owns any vehicle nor any house or residential buildings in her name.

'Didi', as she is known as among her followers, has 10 grams of gold jewellery worth Rs 15,000. The firebrand leader has just one dependent -- her mother -- who holds no separate assets, the asset details show.

The details of assets and liabilities of the ministers for the year 2008-09 have been made public by the Prime Minister's Office after Central Information Commission's decision in this regard. Exercising his Right to Information, activist S C Agrawal had sought these details.

One of the richest ministers Praful Patel has properties worth Rs 29.62 crore (Rs 296 million) while his wife Varsha Patel's immovable assets are worth Rs 37.7 crore (Rs 377 million). The couple also have cash worth over Rs 18 lakh (Rs 1.8 million) in different banks, the asset details filed by the civil aviation minister show.

The minister has jewellery worth Rs 67 lakh (Rs 6.7 million) in his name while his wife has ornaments worth Rs 1.3 crore (Rs 13 million). His only dependent son also has jewellery worth Rs 1.3 crore (Rs 13 million), according to estimation done on March 31, 2009. Patel has not given details of any vehicle owned by him or his family.

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia has assets of nearly Rs 25 crore (Rs 250 million). The major chunk of his assets are 'investments in Indian and foreign securities' which are worth over Rs 16 crore (Rs 160 million).

The young leader also has jewellery of over Rs 5.7 crore (Rs 57 million) and a number of inherited properties. He also owns a Ford car estimated to be worth around Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million).

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's assets are nearly Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) while his wife is worth Rs 1.6 crore (Rs 16 million). The minister has a 10-year-old Ford Ikon car valued at Rs 175,000.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and his wife have assets worth Rs 6.5 crore (Rs 65 million). The amount includes his share from Hindu Undivided Family.

Home Minister P Chidambaram has assets worth Rs 10.5 crore (Rs 105 million) while his wife Nalini Chidambaram has total assets worth Rs 8.5 crore (Rs 85 million). The home minister's assets include coffee estates in Kodagu, Karnataka worth Rs 28.9 lakh (Rs 2.9 million). The phone owned by Chidambaram is worth Rs 38,000 while his wife Nalini's phone is worth Rs 60,000.

Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal's assets are over Rs 23 crore (Rs 230 million) while his wife owns a property worth Rs 7 crore (Rs 70 million).

Former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has assets worth Rs 27 crore (Rs 270 million) which includes a flat in New York.

DMK leader and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M K Alagiri has movable and immovable assets worth over Rs 8.9 crore (Rs 89 million) while his wife has assets worth Rs 2.63 crore (Rs 26 million). His son also has movable and immovable properties worth Rs 3.62 crore (Rs 36 million).

These details include a fixed deposit worth Rs 4 crore (Rs 40 million) and Rs 1.39 crore (Rs 14 million) in savings account.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna owns movable and immovable assets of nearly Rs 1.1 crore (Rs 11 million).

Farooq Abdullah, Minister for New and Renewable Energy has given details of property worth Rs 250,000 while he also mentioned of Rs 400,000 received as ex-gratia from state government for a house burnt down by militants.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had Rs 22.6 lakh (Rs 2.3 million) in his two savings accounts while his wife had Rs 83.8 lakh (Rs 8.4 million) in two bank accounts.

Other prominent ministers' assets details include that of Telecom Minister A Raja with assets of nearly Rs 1.5 crore (Rs 15 million) which include ornaments and jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh (Rs 1.5 million), cash of over Rs 16 lakh (Rs 1.6 million).

Minister of State D Napolean has assets of nearly Rs 14 crore (Rs 140 million).

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff