Corruption charges against PM Modi needs high-level inquiry: U'khand CM Rawat

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Sunday said the corruption charges put forth by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is grave in nature, adding that a high-level investigation is required in the same.

"The evidences shown by Rahul Gandhi put grave charges against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier there were investigations conducted by JPC and CBI. Lest that demonetisation is benefiting only few selected individuals," Rawat said.

Rawat said that demonetisation has started showing negative impact on the state exchequer.

"Still the situation is grim as the economy has started facing negative impacts. According to our estimates, the loss is around Rs. 1,000 crore post demonetisation," he added.

The Congress vice-president has earlier accused Prime Minister Modi of having taken money from the Sahara and Birla business groups when he was the chief minister of Gujarat and demanded an independent inquiry into the matter.

Gandhi made this assertion in Prime Minister Modi's native district of Mehsana in Gujarat just days after he said that he had proof of "personal corruption" against the latter.

Gandhi alleged that the Sahara Group had paid Rs.40 crore, while the Birla Group had paid Rs.12 crore to Prime Minister Modi, claiming his charges were based on documents recovered during raids on the companies by the income tax department.