Silicone money

 

 

Palatial bungalows, huge agricultural land, prime commercial establishments and crores of rupees in various bank accounts. This is the CBI’s description of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati’s assets.

The CBI says it found Mayawati owning assets worth more than Rs 16 crore including Rs 7 crore of unaccounted money in various bank accounts, whereas she had declared assets worth Rs 1.1 crore to the Income Tax department three years ago. Besides, she has invested crores in the stock market and has benami property worth Rs 9 crore, the CBI claims. Yadav is facing a similar case of disproportionate assets. So are Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his opponent, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal.

The cbi says mayawati has rs 7 crore in banks alone

The story is not very different down south with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi and his opponent AIADMK head J. Jayalalithaa. Where does the money come from? “Politicians have no real source of income. They often become sleeping partners in the business of the people they oblige”, UP Congress chief Salman Khurshid said recently in a rare moment of candidness. Assets look good when in control. When they get too big, they tend to raise questions.

Only a few like Sukh Ram have been convicted of corruption. It’s the time for politicians to have self-restraint or they may have to face a proactive judiciary.