'Pradhan Sewak' Modi should initiate probe in Jay Shah's case: Congress

New Delhi [India], Oct. 8 (ANI): The Congress Party on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate probe on the allegations made against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah regarding the irregularity in the turnover of his company.

"A company, which was facing loss in 2013-2014, how come its turnover was Rs. 80 crore in 2015-2016? We are not saying that there is any criminal offence, but a probe is needed in this regard," Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.

"This matter should not be exaggerated and our Pradhan Sewak (Prime Minister Modi) should initiate probe in this matter," he added.

Sibal, while talking to the media persons, here said the total assets, number of employees Jay Shah's company had, all these questions are a mystery and probe is needed to reveal the complete truth.

"If he got seven crores of security from the Kusum enterprises then what was the need to take loan of Rs. 25 crores and if he is saying that the value is secured by way of goods, then what is the values of these goods?" he asked.

Sibal also hit out at BJP leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal for holding the press briefing and for defending Jay Shah on a "public platform".

Sibal said being a minister, Goyal can defend the government but there was no need of him to defend Jay Shah.

"If Piyush Goyal would have contacted me, I would have given him correct legal advice, that there was no point doing such press conference. Does Jay Shah inform all these things to him on regular basis? Do they share such close bond?" Sibal questioned.

The Congress leader also questioned Goyal the reason behind giving loan from his ministry in the name of startups to Jay Shah and asked him to reveal the number of companies they have provided loan for the same purpose.

"As far as his ministry is concerned, they gave the loan of Rs. 10.35 crore to Jay Shah then they say that we don't want start ups. We want startups, but these kinds of startups where things are unclear, should be probed," he said.

"To how many startups they have given loan? Can they reveal it? If Jay Shah wants to file defamation he can do it, why is Piyush Goyal interfering in it?" he added.

Sibal also mocked Goyal and asked him to take legal advice before coming to a public platform.

Earlier in the day, Goyal informed that Jay Shah, will be filing a criminal defamation suit against news website 'The Wire' for alleging that Jay's company posted a turnover of Rs. 80.5 crore in 2015-16.

Addressing a press conference, Goyal said, "Mr. Jay Shah will file criminal defamation suit of Rs. 100 crore against author (of article), editor and owner of news website The Wire."

"We reject any allegation sought to be made against Mr. Jay Shah or any of our leaders. Mr. Jay Shah will file civil and criminal prosecution for defamation in Ahmedabad Court," he added.

The BJP leader further said that the article is written to damage the reputation of party president Amit Shah.

A report, written by Rohini Singh in 'The Wire', details the growth of Jay Shah's company, Temple Enterprise Private Ltd, from revenues of Rs. 50,000 in 2014-'15 to Rs. 80.5 crore in 2015-'16. (ANI)