Attempts being made to malign my image: Vijay Goel

Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Thursday rejected reports that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) changed its layout plan to allot a plot to an NGO closely associated to him, and said that attempts were being to malign his image.

"This is an attempt to malign my image," said Goel while addressing a press conference here.

"This entire story is wrong. We will take action against them," he added.

The Sports Minister further said that the whole story was concocted, incorrect and sensationalized without real facts.

An Indian Express report says that the plot in Delhi, which was earmarked for a post office, was in September 2016, allotted to the NGO - Vaish Aggarwal Educational Society (VAES).

According to the NGO, the Toy Bank collects used and unused toys from different sources, restores them and distributes them to needy children.

It is also reported that the NGO sought land from the DDA to set up a toy bank, soon after Goel became a Rajya Sabha member in 2014.

According to DDA records, Goel is vice-president of the NGO, son Siddhant and daughter Vidyun are among members.

However, the Sports Minister denied the claims and said, "I am not the president anymore of the society mentioned and when they applied for the land, I was not a minister."

"I resigned from the post of VAES president in 2013," he added.

The report also stated that on December 23, 2015, a DDA file noting recorded that the 488-sq m plot 'suggested' by VAES was visited by DDA officials.