Author: Pratyush Kanth
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 25, 2001
The Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) has completed the major part of its investigation within the country
in the Vincent George case and is now concerning to CBI sources, on verifying
the remittances amounting to over Rs. 3.5 crore sent to him from abroad,
mainly from the U.S. Mr George is a close aide of Congress chief Sonia
Gandhi.
"During George's interrogation,
he had claimed that the money was gifted to him by his relatives and others.
We have contracted Interpol to check the financial background of these
people and also to get other intelligence inputs on them," a CBI source
said.
CBI sources say the Interpol keeps
a close watch on hawala transactions and the persons involved in them,
and it is giving the CBI crucial inputs in this case. "A letter rogatory
will be sent soon to collect the legal evidences about the source of money,"
sent to V George, said a source.
Within the country, the CBI investigations
against George were conducted in Kerala, Karnataka and Delhi, where most
of the properties owned by Mr George and his family members are located.
"We have carried out detailed investigation regarding every property purchased
by George and the persons who were involved in these transactions," said
a CBI source.
He said, "The thrust of our investigation
in George's case has now shifted outside India because after December 1990,
when George ceased to be a public servant, there was a quantum increase
in the assets of his wife Lilly and minor children. The purchase of these
assets has been facilitated because of various huge cash gifts from abroad,
supposedly from their close family members."
CBI sources said these "big cash
gifts" started coming in from June 1991.These included a deposit of Rs
1.25 crore in November 1991, Rs 41 lakh in December 1991, Rs 70 lakh in
December 1992, Rs 20 lakh in March 1995, Rs 71 lakh in January 1996, Rs
30 lakh in March 1997, and Rs 25 lakh in November 1999.
The claim that these sums .accrued
from business transactions of the two firms of Lilly George Lillians Exports
and Diana Agencies - "does not hold much water" since preliminary investigation
has revealed that the business did not have the infrastructure that could
generate so much money, agency officials said.
"Even statements of Lilly George
made to us reveal that these businesses were active only for a period around
1991-1992," said a source.
CBI sources also claimed "major
discrepancies" in George's income-tax records.
