The ruling BJP had given money to a “for profit” company called Shree Multimedia Vision Limited (SMVL) to publish a newspaper Tarun Bharat, according to The Economic Times. The money comes from the BJP party funds.
According to the report, the amount of Rs 25 lakh was given in 2001 and resulted in no return on investment. Several BJP leaders, the report claims, were either directors or stakeholders in the newspaper, raising questions of conflict of interest.
Many of the directors, even in the past, have had close associations with the BJP including those who donated to the party or fought elections with the party ticket, the report claims.
Currently, the Mumbai Tarun Bharat is published from the BJP office in Chembur.
The report also claims that Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde, is on the list of directors of SMVL. He also allegedly appointed the newspaper’s editor Dilip Karambelkar as the head of a Maharashtra State Marathi Encyclopedia Production Board after becoming the minister. Karambelkar is also one of the directors of SMVL.
Questions have also been raised since Tawde had not disclosed this information in the election affidavits filed with the Election Commission in February 2014 and September the same year. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has now demanded that Tawde be sacked.
When contacted by the newspaper, Karambelkar said that it was not possible to return the amount as the company went out of business.
- BJP gives Rs 21 lakh to a “for profit” company SMVL.
- SMVL fails to return the money since it makes “nil” business.
- Newspaper Mumbai Tarun Bharat is still published from BJP office in Chembur.
- Several BJP leaders, now in government, are directors or stakeholders in the company.
- Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde listed as one of the directors of SMVL.
Reactions to the Story
When contacted, BJP leader Arun Singh told ET,
The amount was given as an advance for normal transaction. Accordingly, the amount was shown as a trade advance given by the Maharashtra unit of Bharatiya Janata Party in its audited balance sheet which in turn is merged with the overall accounts of the party.
Minister Nitin Gadkari who was one of the founder directors of SMVL admitted that it might be unethical for a political party to have a commercial undertaking. He said,
However, at the cost of repetition, let me state that the company will be in the best position to answer specific queries regarding the transaction.
The report elaborates on the network which includes,
- C Uday Bhaskar Nair
- Ram Prakash Mishra
- Keshav Kunj
- Shrirang Printers
- Bharatiya Vichar Darshan
The report traces how all the names involved are connected and the addresses which lead them back to Shree Multimedia Vision Limited.
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