The Congress on Tuesday made a stunning revelation by claiming that Rs 3 lakh crore were printed abroad immediately after the demonetisation announcement and brought in planes to Delhi’s Hindon air base using a military aircraft before being taken to the Reserve Bank – at a charge of 35 to 40 per cent exchange commision.
Addressing an emergency press conference, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that not only was the demonetisation announcement a ‘surgical strike on the poor’ but it also provided an opportunity for the rich to convert their unaccounted cash by manipulating the banking system. “It is the biggest scam in the history of India,” Sibal said asking, “Who benefited from this scam, needs to be investigated.”
Sibal also played a video, claiming that it was an expose on the currency exchange conducted by the government after the note ban. “A glimpse of the nature of this scam is showcased in the selected clips that are to follow. These are taken from hours of footage that is available on www.tnn.world.”
In the video, one Rahul Ratharekar, who claimed to be a former RAW employee, could be seen in conversation with an undercover journalist. Rahul said that three series of Rs 1 lakh crore each were printed abroad, adding that the duplicate currency notes were allegedly printed abroad and brought to India in Air Force Transport planes at Hindon Air Force base. The ‘former RAW official’ also spoke about the ‘logistics of currency exchange operation and how it is being controlled from the very top’; he twice named BJP President Amit Shah. Ratharekar also said that the exchange transaction percentages increased from 15% initially to 35-40%.
उन्होंने अमित शाह द्वारा नियंत्रित मुद्रा अदला-बदली के विस्तृत लॉजिस्टिक्स के बारे में भी बताया। वह बताते हैं कि कैसे 26 लोगों को विशेष रूप से आरबीआई के साथ समन्वय और पर्यवेक्षण के लिए विभिन्न विभागों से भर्ती किया गया है : @KapilSibal
— Congress Live (@INCIndiaLive) April 9, 2019
Rahul, according to the video broadcast by the Congress, also said that ‘a fixed % has to be remitted regularly up the chain,’ allegedly headed by Amit Shah.
He then went on to claim that a separate department in the Prime Minister’s Office was allegedly ‘overseeing this work.’ This department, he added, was headed by one Nipun Sharan (code name). Rahul told the undercover reporter how 26 individuals were recruited from various departments specifically to oversee and co-ordinate with the RBI for currency exchange work. These government servants, according to him, were posted in various RBI offices to oversee, control and report currency transactions to their head in the PMO and Amit Shah.
Sibal told reporters, “It shows the alleged involvement of a political party, along with bankers, government and its officials including those who enforce the law. If this is true and the treasury can be looted in this fashion, then we all need to be alert to the dangers that lie ahead. The forces, if involved in such an enterprise, are not only anti-national but have committed treason.
He also explains the detailed logistics of currency exchange controlled by @AmitShah. He explains how 26 people have been recruited from various dept. specifically to oversee and co-ordinate with RBI: @KapilSibal
— Congress Live (@INCIndiaLive) April 9, 2019
“A recent expose showing a wall full of crisp Rs.2000 currency notes after December 31, 2016 has not persuaded our enforcement agencies to investigate or even lodge an FIR. These are the agencies who are misusing their powers to target the opposition in the midst of the election.”
Reacting to the Congress’ sting video, the ministry of defence issued a statement denying the use of any military aircraft for transporting currency printed abroad. News agency quoted a defence ministry statement, “It is categorically refuted that any Indian Air Force aircraft was tasked to fly abroad for carrying currency prior to, during or after demonetization as alleged in a video released today.”
Link of full press conference below.
