The Adani Mega Scam is the largest corruption scandal in Indian history since he assumed office. Prime Minister Modi’s single point agenda has been enriching his nest-friend. The Modi Government and SEBI facilitated suspicious offshore individuals to take ordinary Indian shareholders for a ride. Former Congress President always raises question about offshore investment of Rs. 20, 000 crores in Adani Group from Mauritius. International Newspaper has been dominated by latest revelation on ‘Modani Scam’. Congress MP, Shri Rahul Gandhi took press conference on this issue on August 31, 2023, at Mumbai and addressed the Media. The excerpts of the press conference are as follows:

Shri Rahul Gandhi said- I would like to welcome all of you here. I believe there was some confusion about the timing. So, I apologize for that. I am sorry you had to wait. Of course, the flavor... the current flavor is the G20 and the G20 is about India’s position in the world and what is very important for a country like India is that there is a level-playing field and transparency in our economic environment, and with regards to the businesses that operate in our country.

This morning two prominent global newspapers have raised a very important question. So, that’s the ‘Financial Times’ and you can see right on top - Adani group, hidden investors and a secret paper trail. Here, is another one - The Guardian… “Modi-linked Adani family secretly invested in own shares, documents suggest”. And the third one - Wealthy Indian family with links to Modi invested in own shares. Now, these are not any random newspapers, these are newspapers that affect investment in India, they affect the perception of our country in the rest of the world.

Now, there are a few questions that they are asking… these newspapers are asking. First of all, they are stating clearly that over a billion dollars of money that went from India was circulated in different places and then came back to India. This is, according to them, clearly proved with documentation that they have. So, the first question arises: whose money is this? So, that is the first question.

Second question, the mastermind behind this is a gentleman called Vinod Adani. He is the brother of Mr. Gautam Adani and there are two other people who are involved in this round tripping of money - Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli and another is a Chinese gentleman called Chang Chung-Ling. So, the second question arises; why are these two foreign nationals being allowed to play with the valuation of one of the companies that controls almost all of Indian infrastructure? Who are these people? And why are they being allowed to do this? And what is the role of the brother of Mr. Adani in all this?

The final point, which is a very interesting point, is that there was an investigation. Evidence was given to SEBI, and SEBI gave a clean chit to Mr. Adani. And it’s very interesting to know that the gentleman, the same gentleman who gave a clean chit to Mr. Adani, is today a director in NDTV. So, it is very clear that there is something very wrong here.

Now, we are trying to show to the world that we are a transparent economy… we are trying to show to the world, and now our businesses, that India has a level-playing field. The question of course is - why is this one gentleman, who is close to the Prime Minister of India, allowed to move a billion dollars to pump up his share price to use that money to capture Indian assets - airports, ports? Why is there no investigation taking place? It’s very important that the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, clears his name and categorically explains what is going on. At the very least, a JPC should be allowed and a thorough investigation should take place. I don’t understand why the Prime Minister is not forcing an investigation. Why is he quiet? Why doesn’t he say that he is going to make sure that this issue is investigated and the people who are responsible are put behind bars?

So, this is raising a very serious question on the Indian Prime Minister just before leaders of the G20 are coming here. They are going to be our guests and they are going to be asking the question - what is this special company that is owned by a gentleman close to the Prime Minister? Why is it that in an economy like India, this gentleman has been given a free ride? They are going to ask this question, and I think it’s very important that this matter is made clear before they arrive.

On a question, Shri Rahul Gandhi said- I mean what is amazing to me is that the gentleman who has done the investigation....he is today an employee of Mr. Adani. What does that tell you about the nature of investigation that the gentleman did? So, it is pretty clear that there is no investigation that took place and the only reason no investigation took place is because the Prime Minister didn’t want an investigation to take place. Mr. Adani cannot stop an investigation… the Prime Minister can.

With regards to the INDIA alliance, this is a national issue. This is not an issue of any one party, this is a national issue… this is an issue that affects India’s reputation, especially because now there is G20 taking place and India’s reputation and the Prime Minister’s reputation is on the line. There are 20 guests coming and right in front of them, two of the leading dailies in the world have said that the Prime Minister is involved with Mr. Adani.

On a question that you people are continuously demanding JPC and the government is rejecting it, now the government has called a 5-day session again, will you demand JPC in it? Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the issue is the same. The issue is that there is no level-playing field in India today. Adani ji is there. He can buy any asset of India - be it Dharavi, Mumbai Airport, cement company or defense company. I had said in my speech that the Prime Minister goes on foreign tours, Adani ji used to go with him and immediately after that Adani ji gets fat contracts. So, the question is about level-playing field, why is the Prime Minister protecting only one person in this way? And one person is buying all the assets of India and clearly that person has done something wrong. 1 billion dollars have gone from here, whose money is it? The Prime Minister should find out and the country should know whose money it is.

In response to another question, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that he has spoken very clearly, he is saying that he has documents, he has emails, 1 billion dollars have gone from here and come back, through that the share price has been increased. And by increasing that share price, assets of India have been bought. So, I am raising this issue daily and will continue to do so.

On another question, Shri Rahul Gandhi said- Maybe I think, it’s an indication of a little panic… same type of panic that happened when I spoke in Parliament house… panic that suddenly made them revoke my Parliament membership. So, I think, it is panic because these matters are very close to the Prime Minister and whenever you touch the Adani matter, the Prime Minister gets very uncomfortable and very nervous.

On another question, Shri Rahul Gandhi said- I don’t think there is any difference in opinion. We are very clear a JPC should be called and this matter needs to be investigated. This is a matter of India’s global reputation. That should be investigated.

In response to yet another question, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister should come clean. Prime Minister should say - yes, I announce a JPC… I announce an investigation into Mr. Adani. I announce an investigation into this Chang Chung-Ling and also into this Nasser Ali Shabhan Ali. So, this is the duty of the Prime Minister.