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Updated: Nov 21, 2024 21:22 IST
New Delhi [India], November 21 (.): After US prosecutors charged industrialist Gautam Ad. and others in an alleged bribery scam, RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha on Thursday said that it is a “matter of concern” and demanded a Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) investigation into the matter.
“It is a matter of concern that whenever questions are raised on Ad.’s working style, BJP leaders defend him as their representatives… Now the time has come to take action… Never before have questions been raised about any other Indian industrialist… Our country’s financial institutions have remained silent on Ad.’s working style till now. How will they defend him now?…JPC should be formed into the matter,” the RJD leader told ..
Earlier today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi called for Ad.’s arrest and said that it is “clear” and “established” that the Ad. Group Chairman has broken both American and Indian laws.
“Wherever there is corruption, investigation should be done. But the investigation will begin with Ad.. Unless he is arrested, it won’t be credible. So, begin it from there. Arrest Ad., interrogate him and then nab whoever is involved. In the end, Narendra Modi’s name will come out because BJP’s entire funding structure is in his hands. So, even if the PM wants, he can’t do anything. In a way, Ad. has hijacked the country. India is in Ad.’s grip,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Moreover, BJP MP Sambit Patra said that the company will defend itself on its own and the law will take its own course.
Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Sambit Patra said, “Today, since morning, we have been seeing in the media an issue regarding a company. There is a case against that company in the US. There are allegations and counter-allegations. We clearly believe that as far as the company and the case against it are concerned, the company will issue a statement and defend itself on its own. Law will take its own course.”
However, the Ad. Group strongly refuted bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of the Ad. Green as baseless.
The Ad. Group spokesperson in an official statement said all legal recourse will be taken.
“The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Ad. Green are baseless and denied,” the statement read.
The group further highlighted a key aspect of the legal proceedings, noting, “As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, ‘the charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.’ All possible legal recourse will be sought.”
Amid these allegations, Ad. Green Energy also informed stock exchanges that its subsidiaries have decided to defer their planned US dollar-denominated bond offerings.
It said, “In light of these developments, our subsidiaries have presently decided not to proceed with the proposed USD-denominated bond offerings”.
US prosecutors had charged Gautam Ad. and others in an alleged Solar Energy contract bribery case. A five-count criminal indictment has been unsealed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charging prominent Indian executives including the Chairman of the Ad. Group Gautam Ad. by linking them to an alleged bribery and fraud scheme. (.)
