Bardhan demands probe into charges against Vadra

Communist Party if India leader A B Bardhan demanded a probe into business dealings between Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra and DLF, saying there were contradictions between the financial statements declared by Vadra and the realty major.

"An inquiry is necessary because the charges leveled against Vadra by India Against corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal are concrete, weighty and strong," Bardhan told a press conference.

Dismissing Finance Minister P Chidambaram's assertion that a probe was not required because there were no specific allegations of corruption, Bardhan asked what more was required to order an enquiry.

"Chidambaram has given an excuse that nothing has come out in the open. What more will come in the open? Robert Vadra had given his own financial statements before government authorities. DLF has given its figures. People say that there are contradictions as both (the versions) are not tallying," argued Bardhan.

"All these contradictions show there is something amiss, so there should be a probe into the charges," he added.

Chidambaram had on Monday ruled out any probe into business dealings between Vadra and DLF as the government could not look into private transactions unless there were specific allegations of corruption.

To a pointed question on the Congress action in defending Vadra on the issue, Bardhan termed it as "wrong" because Vadra was neither of the Congress party nor a part of the central government.

"So it is not necessary to use Congress ministers and its machinery in his defence. This is very wrong," claimed Bardhan.

Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi had said the attack on Vadra was not on an individual but on the party and its leadership.