Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) treasurer Piyush Goyal on Saturday refuted allegations that he had close links with DB Realty promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka.
Goyal was alleged to have received Rs 15 crore from Goenka, also a director at Swan Telecom. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the second generation mobile telephony spectrum allotment scandal, reportedly has a receipt of the payment made to Goyal and is planning to conduct raids at his offices and residence in the coming days.
Goyal, a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra and close to BJP President Nitin Gadkari, maintained that he had no connection with the telecom business of DB Realty. He said he had not received any notice from CBI to appear before the agency for questioning.
“Some reports have appeared in the media, alleging my companies’ relationships with DB Realty. As part of my company’s professional engagement, I have also advised the real estate business of DB Realty for raising equity. As is well-known, several international professionals, lawyers, merchant bankers and international audit firms were also engaged in the initial public offer (IPO) besides me. I have never been engaged in relation to their telecom business,” Goyal said in a statement on Saturday. He claimed he had helped DB Realty as a chartered accountant and investment banker.
Goyal clarified that his engagement with DB Realty ended with the IPO over a year ago. He said the real estate company was not the only company he was associated with and he had advised several clients on corporate strategy and raising equity.
“Even my professional fee has not been realised because of the current issues in their company. My relationship with their real estate company was professional. I reiterate that I never had anything to do even professionally as far as their communication or telecom business is concerned.”
