'I-T dept didn't share info on Ispat pay-offs with CBI'

The purported 'statement of the CMD account at Delhi', which allegedly detailed payments of Ispat Industries' promoters to public servants and politicians, was never shared with the CBI, sources revealed on Saturday. Rajesh Ahuja reports.

The purported 'statement of the CMD account at Delhi', which allegedly detailed payments of Ispat Industries' promoters to public servants and politicians, was never shared with the CBI, sources revealed on Saturday.

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The 45-page document was recovered during I-T searches at the offices of Ispat Industries at Hotel Ashok in Delhi on November 30, 2010. The document appeared to suggest that politicians, ministers and their staff, besides PSU officials and bureaucrats, were allegedly made cash payments.

Some of the payments were mentioned under heads such as 'FIPB old approval notification', 'Amount paid to GM, DIC Champa for possession of government land to industry department' and 'Paid to gen secretary staff (CONG)'.

The document listings also showed a substantial amount under 'miscellaneous expenses' on CBI, ED, CVC, coal ministry, steel ministry and ministry of forest staffers. "It wasn't shared with the CBI," said an agency source.

The document said four payments were made between October 2009 and August 2010, totalling Rs. 2.27 crore, to a person mentioned as 'VBS'. Besides, there are payments listed as 'amounts paid to MSTC and STC'.

Ispat promoter Pramod Mittal has denied making any such payment. He also denied knowledge of any 'statement of CMD account at Delhi'.

Congress's Virbhadra Singh has denied allegations of pay-offs as "lies and conspiracy".

(With inputs from HTC Kangra)