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Trouble is mounting for Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar as a Supreme Court lawyer and a Bengaluru-based resident have filed complaints against him, accusing the minister of providing inaccurate and misleading information about his assets in the poll affidavit.
The complaints, addressed to the Thiruvananthapuram district collector and returning officer, allege that Chandrasekhar’s declaration of having assets of approximately ₹36.12 crore grossly undervalues his true financial standing. The Union Minister filed his nomination papers on Thursday as he prepares for a battle against Congress leader and three-time MP Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram.
The letters point out that Chandrasekhar declared assets worth ₹65 crore in the 2018 Rajya Sabha elections, raising questions about the consistency in asset declaration. According to the complaints, the union minister declared assets worth ₹25 crore and ₹37 crore in the Rajya Sabha polls of 2006 and 2012, respectively.
The complaints note discrepancies in Chandrasekhar’s affidavit, particularly in the valuation of movable assets. While the affidavit lists movable assets at approximately ₹9.25 crore, it has been contended that receivables totaling approximately ₹41 crore have been disregarded, allegedly with a view to mislead voters.
The Congress’s Kerala unit has also raised concerns over alleged errors in Chandrasekhar’s affidavit, citing inconsistencies in asset valuation and discrepancies in listing properties.
In the affidavit accompanying his nomination papers, Chandrasekhar has declared movable assets worth ₹13,69,18,637, while his spouse possesses assets valued at ₹12,47,00,408. Additionally, his movable assets include jewellery, bullion, and other valuable items, amounting to over ₹3.25 crore.
Furthermore, Chandrasekhar’s self-acquired property, purchased for ₹5,26,42,640, now holds an approximate current market value of ₹14,40,00,000. However, he also acknowledges liabilities totaling ₹19,41,92,894, which are currently under dispute. Meanwhile, his spouse’s liabilities under the same category amount to ₹1,63,43,972, including loans from banks and financial institutions.
According to his Income Tax return for 2022-23, Chandrasekhar’s total income stands at ₹5,59,200, reflecting a significant increase from ₹680 in the previous year (2021-22).
As Chandrasekhar prepares to contest against Tharoor and CPI veteran Pannian Raveendran in the polls scheduled for April 26, these allegations cast doubt on his transparency and accountability, potentially impacting his electoral campaign.
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