The CPI(M) has demanded a CBI probe into the “links” of A.B. Vajpayee’s foster son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya with the buyer of the Mumbai Centaur hotel.Addressing a press conference, party’s Rajya Sabha MP Dipankar Mukherjee alleged that former disinvestment minister Arun Shourie shielded Bhattacharya, who used his influence in the Vajpayee government to ensure that the Centaur deal went in favour of Batra Hospitalities. CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat was also present at the conference.Meanwhile, accusing the Left of levelling unsubstantiated allegations, Shourie asked it to prove the charge.“The allegation is typical of what has happened to public life and public discourse in India. Anyone can say anything about anybody,” said Shourie.“At no stage of any disinvestment did Rajan Bhattacharya speak to me. Nor did anyone ever speak to me on his behalf about any disinvestment,” he asserted. “As far as Batra and his bid, it was an open bid in which any one could have participated. His bid was rejected once as being below the reserve price. It was only in the second round that he succeeded,” Shourie clarified.
