Congress accuses Smriti Irani of MPLADS scam

New Delhi: A day after Union minister Smriti Irani accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi of involvement in a “land scam”, the Congress hit back by accusing Irani of corruption in spending her MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) funds and demanded that the Prime Minister sack her from the Cabinet and a first information report (FIR) be filed against her.

Addressing a presser Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Shaktisinh Gohil released a copy of a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report to support their charge against Irani. “The CAG implicated Smriti Irani for making payment of Rs 5.93 crore from MPLADS funds, without tender, including fraudulent payment of Rs 84.53 lakh,” said Surjewala.

“The time has come to sack Irani and lodge an FIR against her for proper investigation under Section 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and different provisions of Indian Penal Code,” said Gohil.


They also said that the district collector of Anand had written a letter dated June 20, 2017 to the Gujarat government pointing out the irregularities and the fraud being committed under the grants received under MPLADS.

Under the scheme, MPs can recommend developmental work of up to Rs 5 crore a year in their constituencies.