Prashant Kishor earned Rs 241 crore over last 3 years through consultancy services

Demanding that Deputy CM Choudhary, a BJP leader, be immediately removed from his post and arrested, Kishor repeated his allegations against him of being involved in the 1995 Tarapur massacre, in which seven people from the Kushwaha community were killed. He also alleged that Choudhary had submitted forged documents to claim he was a minor at the time of the incident.

Additionally, Kishor also asked if Samrat Choudhary was investigated in connection with the deaths of two people in 1999, in a case that was investigated by the CBI, which later ruled the deaths suicides. Kishor called on Choudhary to “clarify” any alleged role in the case.

The JSP leader said a delegation of his party would meet the Governor to press for Choudhary’s dismissal, and that he would also write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the issue.

While Samrat Choudhary did not respond to requests for a response, the BJP dismissed the allegations as baseless and motivated by personal vendettas.

Bihar BJP media in-charge, Danish Eqbal, said, “Prashant Kishor is resorting to sensationalism to stay relevant. His allegations are nothing but a desperate attempt to stay in the limelight.”

“The Tarapur massacre case had already been adjudicated in court, and the court has already acquitted Samrat Choudhary. Even Lalu Prasad Yadav had to apologise to him for wrong accusations,” Eqbal said.

On Kishor’s remarks on the two deaths in 1999, Eqbal said, “The way Prashant Kishor has dragged Samrat Choudhary’s name into the case is an example of his desperation. It shows how far he is willing to go to malign others.”

In Monday’s press conference, Kishor also raised fresh allegations JD(U) minister Ashok Choudhary, whom he has previously accused of corruption and of running a commission racket involving government contracts. Kishor also alleged that the minister had been “extorting a 5% commission from government contracts worth over Rs 20,000 crore in the past eight months.”

“I have documents that show Ashok Choudhary has acquired illegal properties worth Rs 500 crore. If he doesn’t withdraw the Rs 100 crore defamation notice against me within seven days, I will release these documents,” Kishor said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Ashok Choudhary dismissed Kishor’s allegations as baseless.

“Prashant Kishor should show even a single piece of land that is registered in my name, separate from my declared property. He must prove it. The trust (the Manav Vaibhav Vikas Trust, which Kishor has accused of making big transactions with questionable financial backing) has been operating since 1985, so all the allegations he is making are false and baseless. I have served him with legal notices twice, to which he has failed to provide any satisfactory response. If he has proof, instead of making allegations in a press conference, he should come forward with an affidavit and present his evidence,” Ashok Choudhary said.

Kishor on his own finances

In response to remarks from the BJP, questioning the transparency and legality of his own party’s funding, Kishor said in the press conference he had earned a total of Rs 241 crore over the last three years through consultancy services, and that from this income, Rs 30.95 crore was paid as GST and Rs 20 crore as income tax.

“I am not a thief. I have earned Rs 241 crore through legitimate consultancy work over three years. Every rupee is accounted for, with all taxes duly paid,” Kishor said.

He said the consultancy fees came from strategic advice provided to a range of clients, and that his business activities spanned various industries, putting forward as an example the Rs 11 crore that he said he earned from Navyuga Constructions “for a two-hour consultancy” during a product launch.

“In the last three years, from 2021-22, my personal accounts and associated institutions received Rs 241 crore in consultancy fees. I donated Rs 98.75 crore from my personal account to Jan Suraaj,” Kishor said, adding that all funds were generated through lawful means. He also said that he has committed to dedicating his earnings in the next 10 years to improving the system in Bihar.

He has claimed that he never charged for political advice before entering politics in 2021, at which point, he said he systematically began charging consultancy fees to support his activities and the party.

BJP’s Danish Eqbal raised questions regarding Kishor’s consultancy work, saying, “What kind of consultancy does Prashant Kishor offer? Is Prashant Kishor an architect or an engineer to advise construction companies? His claims don’t make sense.”

Eqbal alleged that Kishor was trying to divert attention from his own activities and was “trying to cover up his own misdeeds by pointing fingers at others”.