BJP Minister alleges FATF report highlights Gandhi family's corruption on global stage

New Delhi: At a time when the Congress and other political parties are demanding a probe into billionaire Gautam Adani’s alleged financial malpractices in response to the Hindenburg report, Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur came out with the FATF report to allege that the corruption of the Gandhi family was showcased in a global report.

The Financial Action Task Force is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. Thakur made reference to the FATF report, which includes a case study that bears resemblance to a case against former Yes Bank CMD Rana Kapoor charged by the Enforcement Directorate, according to a report published by The Indian Express.

However, nowhere in the FATF report could found any names except a reference to the accused as 'Mr. A', who was involved in money laundering through paintings. The report mentions that the accused had purchased a painting from 'the close relative of a member of the ruling political party at that time for USD 264,000'.

Without giving any chance of doubt, the BJP Minister alleged that the case mentioned in the FATF report has been linked to the corruption in which the Gandhi family was involved and called it a great shame for the family to have the case showcased in a global report.

The FATF flagged the example of 'Mr A' in its report titled 'Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in the Arts and the Antiques Market'. The report stated, "Mr A was the managing director and CEO of an Indian bank who misused his position during his tenure. He deliberately violated existing norms and regulations by sanctioning loans of the rupee equivalent of USD 628 million to business entities that were incurring losses or had negative credit."

In a charge sheet filed in connection with the money laundering case against Kapoor, the ED had mentioned Kapoor's statement that he was forced to buy an M F Husain painting from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for Rs 2 crore. Kapoor also stated that the sale proceeds were used by the Gandhi family to pay for the medical treatment of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New York.

Although the report does not mention any names such as Rana Kapoor, Gandhi, or Yes Bank, the case is said to bear a close resemblance to the Rana Kapoor case.

In response to the FATF report, Thakur alleged that new models of corruption by Congress are being uncovered, such as the National Herald and Vadra land scam.

He went on to allege that the FATF has published a case study that depicts how a former Union Minister in the UPA government pressurized an individual to purchase Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's average painting for Rs 2 crore.

“It is shameful that the corruption of the Gandhi family has been made into a case study and revealed to the world by an organization that works towards preventing terrorist financing," the Minister said.