Sonia Gandhi loses tax-free railway bonds worth Rs 10 lakh

NEW DELHI: Amid the hustle-bustle of Lok Sabha polls, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has disclosed loss of tax-free bonds worth Rs 10 lakh purchased from the Indian Railway Finance Corp.

Gandhi, who has listed these bonds among her assets and investments in the latest election affidavit, has also requested IRFC to issue duplicate certificate for these bonds.

While filing nomination for Rae Bareli seat in Uttar Pradesh on April 2, Gandhi had disclosed assets worth over Rs 9 crore. Out of them, she mentioned Rs 10 lakh worth IRFC bonds in the movable assets list.

In a public announcement published in newspapers, IRFC has now said that letters of allotment/bond certificates pertaining to 86th A Series tax-free bonds have been "reported lost" by Gandhi. As many as 1000 bonds worth Rs 10 lakh have been lost.

Gandhi has requested issuance of duplicate letter of allotment/bond certificate, IRFC said in the announcement dated April 21.

Any person who has a claim or lien interest in these bonds is required to inform IRFC in 15 days.

Such public announcements are required to be made by the issuer of bonds or securities in case of the investor reporting their loss.

As per her affidavit, the Congress President has movable assets worth Rs 2.81 crore and immovable assets to the tune of Rs 6.47 crore.

Among the movable assets, Gandhi has Rs 85,000 in cash, Rs 66 lakh in banks, Rs 10 lakh worth bonds and shares worth Rs 1.90 lakh.