BJP on Tuesday demanded the dismissal of Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and a CBI inquiry into his alleged "misuse" of authority for "securing" the investment of his friend Sunanda Pushkar in the Kochi IPL team.
"It is a clear case of blatant misuse by a minister of his authority for securing the investment for his friend (in the Kochi IPL team). This a clear case of corruption and it should be investigated.
"The Prime Minister must sack Sashi Tharoor and entire nature of this transaction must be investigated by the CBI," party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters at his daily briefing in the BJP headquarters.
He said Tharoor's action was a copy book case of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act as the minister is a public servant. "From twitter to corruption is the migration of this enfant terrible of the Congress party," said Prasad.
He rejected Tharoor's contention that he had not not invested nor received a rupee for his mentorship of the team.
Tharoor, whose friend Sunanda reportedly owns 19 per cent (equivalent of Rs.70 crore) in one of the consortium partners of Kochi IPL team, denied IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's claim that he had telephoned him (Modi) not not to ask details about the shareholders.
Prasad said "Who is saying you have invested. Your friend has been accused of having benefited 17 to 18 per cent in equity shares in Rendezvous Sports World. That is why you have telephoned (Lalit Modi) and stopped him from giving details.
"The issue is a question of propriety and conduct of the Minister of the Government of India. The isssue is a question that involves blatant abuse of authority of the minister and public accountability of a minister."
He said Sunanda has no no relationship with Kerala or cricket but only an acknowledged friend of Tharoor. Nobody is denying that Sunanda has been given 17 to 18 per cent of equity in Rendezvous, he said.
"If a minister starts making some kind of a charge directly or indirectly for profit, patronage and protection, then it becomes a copy book case of corruption," Prasad said.
Section 13 (b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, he said makes clear that a minister is a public servant and if he abuses his position for himself or for any other person for any pecuniary advantage, it becomes a matter of criminal misconduct.
Prasad said the party was not not actually interested in Tharoor's personal life or about the IPL as such except for the fact that his role as Minister was under question.
To a question, he said all the details about the ownership of the Kochi IPL team and the details with the IPL should be made public. PTI
