Kejriwal targets Sibal over Vodafone Tax case

Days after Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal was given the additional charge of law ministry following the exit of Ashwani Kumar, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal attacked him over Vodafone tax case, saying the minister could influence the case.

Addressing a press conference today, Kejriwal alleged that Sibal wanted to sort out the tax liability on Vodafone and Hutchinson in an outside court settlement. It can be noted that Sibal’s son is Hutchinson’s lawyer. He raised the question whether a portion of Rs 2,000 crore has gone to Sibal.

Vodafone is facing tax liability of Rs 11,217 crore for purchase of Hong Kong-based Hutchinson Whampoa’s stake in Indian telecom business Hutchison Essar. Hutchinson was bought by Vodafone in 2007.

Accompanied by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Kejriwal said that all the corrupt ministers have joined the GoM to look into the Supreme Court’s directives on CBI autonomy.

However, Congress defended Sibal saying his son represented Vodafone between 2007 and 2009, but the Vodafone tax issue came up in 2012. The Union Cabinet will discuss the Vodafone Tax dispute next week.