Somaiya's habit of making allegations doesn't merit comment: Congress

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Tuesday came to the rescue of Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is facing a fresh allegation by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya of purchasing a 'benami' or proxy-owned mansion in London in 2009.

Dikshit said the former is in the habit of making allegations on anybody, and therefore, does not merit anymore comments.

"Making an allegation is very easy and if I am not mistaken, I think, Mr. Vadra's legal firm has also said that he has nothing to do with this. So, I think, the matter should rest at that. Kirit Somaiya is in a habit of making allegation on anybody, I don't think it merits anymore comments on that," Dikshit told ANI here.

He also said that Somaiya has made an allegation then he should prove the allegation or if he has evidence then he should take it to the relevant authority.

Somaiya had on Monday written a letter to the ED Director Karnal Singh and sought a detailed probe of the matter.

The BJP leader, in his letter, quoted media reports as saying that there is a benami or proxy-owned property in London owned by Mr. Vadra. "The media report quotes a government report stating that alleged arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari is holding a house at 12 Ellerton House, Bryanston Square, London," said Somaiya in his letter.

Vadra, however, denied the charges. Vadra's lawyers have said he "does not own directly or indirectly, a house as quoted in media reports as No. 12, Ellerton House, Bryan-ston Square, London" and that Vadra and his assistant "have not enter-ed into any transaction of a financial nature with Sanjay Bhandari and are not even aware that Bhandari is involved in any defense transaction".

The finance ministry is reportedly probing if Vadra is involved in purchase of the 'benami' mansion in London in 2009 or not.