Muscle Flexing

Just as Yashwant Sinha was crying himself hoarse that he had nothing to do with Flex Industries, The Indian Express came up with proof that ...

Just as Yashwant Sinha was crying himself hoarse that he had nothing to do with Flex Industries, The Indian Express came up with proof that the president of this company lived in a bungalow owned by Sinha, that there were discrepancies in Sinha8217;s income returns filed in the year 1997-98 without reflecting the rental income from this house.

Already a copy of all cabinet ministers8217; assets list as declared to the Prime Minister had run on the Sunday Express. The then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha8217;s connections with Flex Industries and its chief Ashok Chaturvedi was already creating a buzz.

Sinha declared he had no connection with the Flex Industries. But my source told me that Sinha8217;s house in Noida was rented out to Flex Industries. Copies of Sinha8217;s assets details filed with the Prime Minister were dug out to get address details of the Noida bungalow. I hit the road at 9 p.m.

A close vigil around the house and some questioning with the neighbours revealed that Sinha8217;s bungalow 228, Sector 15 A in Noida was rented out to Amitav Ray, President at Flex Industries. And yet Sinha had said in the Parliament he had no connection with the company!

A run to the NOIDA Authority revealed that the house was still in Sinha8217;s name, he hadn8217;t sold it yet.

What8217;s more, a check on the ownership of the cars parked in the driveway showed that a black Mitsubishi Lancer belonged to none other than Flex Industries. Thereafter began the formal questionnaires to the 8216;honourable Finance Minister8217;.

The questions were faxed to Sinha in the morning and by evening we had his replies faxed to us 8230;8216;8216;Dear Navikaji8230;8217;8217; Part of my records now.

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Fallout: Moving House

Sinha did go on record to say the bungalow was his, only he had rented it to a Mr Amitav Ray and that the fact that he worked for Flex Industries was something the then FM didn8217;t know. And since then, Sinha has had to move from the North Block or what is the Finance Ministry to the South Block, as the country8217;s Minister for External Affairs.