In a development with potentially far-reaching political implications, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, his son, Faisal Patel, and his son-in-law, Irfan Siddiqui, have been named by a corporate executive being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection to a money laundering case.
Sunil Yadav, employed by the Sandesara group, which is being investigated by ED for money laundering, has alleged in a written statement to the directorate that “huge amounts of cash” were handed over to Siddiqui by the owner of the Sandesara group, Chetan Sandesara, and his associate, Gagan Dhawan. Yadav also told ED that he had handed over cash to Faisal Patel’s chauffer and that the cash was to be delivered to Ahmed Patel’s son “on behalf of Chetan Sandesara”. Yadav’s written statement also mentions Chetan Sandesara would frequently visit Ahmed Patel’s residence (23 Mother Crescent, New Delhi) and that Patel’s residence would be described as ‘Headquarters 23’ by Sandesara. Siddiqui, Yadav said, would be referred as J2 and Faisal Patel as J1 by Sandesara.Yadav statement was recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This is deemed as judicial proceeding and is admissible as evidence in a court of law.
ET has reviewed a copy of Yadav’s statement to ED. ED officials declined comment. Ahmed Patel told ET he would not like to comment. Congress functionaries who spoke off record alleged Yadav’s statement “has been recorded under coercion” and that “it is vendetta politics and political witch-hunt and attempt to malign Patel’s family.” However, an ED official strongly denied these allegations.
ET had visited Irfan Siddiqui’s residence at Greater Kailash I, Delhi, and was told that Siddiqui would get back to the correspondent. As of going to press, there was no response.
Chetan Sandesara has so far not appeared before ED despite summons. Gagan Dhawan has been arrested.ET had sent questions to them in July when the paper first reported the story on an Income Tax vigilance inquiry into allegations of payoffs to senior tax officials. The inquiry was focused on a diary maintained by an employee of the Sandesara group and recovered during an I-T raid. That diary had also mentioned payments to one ‘Irfan Bhai’. Yadav told ED “Irfan Bhai” was Siddiqui.
The Sandesara group had told ET in July that it was “not aware of issues you have referred in your email”. The group had added, “Also, we refute baseless allegations which are malicious in nature with malafide motives.”
Yadav told ED Sandesara and Dhawan “used to take huge amount of cash with them for handing over to Sh Irfan Ahmed Siddiqui. The cash amount involved used to range from 15 lakh rupees to 25 lakh rupees, and was obtained from the old Delhi office, some cash was brought by Sh Chetan Sandesara from Vadodra to Delhi.” He also said he had accompanied Sandesara “four-five times to visit Siddiqui’s residence”. And that a Vasant Vihar, Delhi property “purchased by Sandesara” was “occupied by Siddiqui”. “I do not know whether any rent was paid by Sh Irfan Siddiqui”, Yadav told ED.
The Sandesara executive’s information on Ahmed Patel’s son says: “Chetan Sandesara had called me and told me to deliver Rs 5 lakh to J1 that is Faisal Patel, in Khan market Delhi…I contacted Sh Rakesh (driver of Faisal Patel) and delivered 5 lakh to him and informed him that amount was sent from Chetan Sandesara.” Yadav also states: “Faisal Patel had visited G6 Pushpanjali farms, to stay overnight and party with his friends, the expenses ( Rs 10 lakh) were looked after by me as per instructions of Sh Chetan Sandesara.”
Sandesara group owners would ensure Faisal Patel got free entry to the night club of a 5-star Delhi hotel, Yadav told ED. “Gagan Dhawan had told me to arrange free entry for Faisal Patel in Hype (nightclub in Shangri-La Hotel in Delhi)”.
