Panama papers: Congress seeks probe monitored by Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The AICC on Thursday also alleged a company hit by the Panama Papers expose. Owned by Lokesh Sharma, 21st Century Media had been granted major contacts by Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) in 2000, when then Law Minister Arun Jaitley was heading the cricket body. The AICC, therefore, has questioned the credibility of the Centre, especially the Finance Ministry headed by Jaitley, conducting an inquiry into the “Panama paper” expose and demanded a Supreme Court-monitored “impartial inquiry”. The AICC has also alleged that International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)’s another set of investigation three years ago figured a company owned by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh’s son and BJP MP Abhishek Singh and demanded the duo’s resignation.

Addressing a press conference, AICC spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, “The most significant name to crop up in the fourth installment of the Panama Papers revelation was that of Sharma. A known personality in the world of sports who enjoys good relations with senior BJP leaders”. Ramesh then released what he said, were the minutes of a DDCA governing body presided over by Jaitley in which, another member Chetan Chauhan was authorised to negotiate and finalise a three-year contracts with 21st Century Media for in-stadia advertisements as well for selling corporate boxes in the stadium.” This agreement gave Lokesh Sharma’s company the right to sell corporate boxes and collect a commission” and pointed out Sharma’s name. His company h now figured in the Panama Papers for launching companies in the British Virgin Islands.

Ramesh has also said that three years ago, another set of investigation under International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) had revealed some papers that mentioned one Abhishak Singh. “This was a reference to Abhishek Singh, the son of Chhattisgarh chief minister Dr Raman Singh. The address of Abhishak Singh given in the website of his company is the same address of Raman Singh’s,” he said.