Priyanka declares total assets worth ₹12 crore; 'confession of corruption', claims BJP

Priyanka is making her poll debut as a Congress contestant in the bypolls for the Wayanad seat, which was vacated by her brother Rahul Gandhi. The bypoll in Wayanad is scheduled for November 13.

According to her nomination paper, her total income for the financial year 2023-24 was over ₹46.39 lakh, which includes rental income and interest from banks and other investments.

Also read: Kerala bypolls: With Priyanka effect, Congress eyes big win in Wayanad, 2 other seats

Most valuable asset

The Congress leader’s most valuable asset seems to be a 12,000 sq ft farmhouse near Shimla, valued at ₹5.64 crore. She also owns a Honda CRV worth ₹8 lakh, described as a gift from her husband. According to PTI, her movable assets amount to over ₹4.24 crore, including deposits in three bank accounts, investments in mutual funds, a Public Provident Fund (PPF), and over 4,400 grams of gold worth ₹1.15 crore.

Her immovable assets, worth ₹7.74 crore, are two inherited half-shares of agricultural land in Mehrauli, New Delhi, valued at ₹2.10 crore, as well as her Shimla property.

Priyanka's liabilities amount to ₹15.75 lakh, which she is contesting due to reassessment proceedings initiated by the Income Tax Department for the 2012-13 tax year. This appeal is currently pending before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), she has said in her affidavit.

Also read: 'Lying troll,' says Cong as BJP attacks Gandhis for 'treating Kharge as third-class citizen'

Vadra's wealth

Meanwhile, Robert Vadra's wealth is a lot more than that of his wife. He owns a Land Cruiser valued at ₹53 lakh, a Mini Cooper worth ₹1.5 lakh, and a Suzuki motorcycle worth ₹4.22 lakh.

According to PTI, his movable assets are valued at ₹37.9 crore, and he owns immovable properties worth ₹27.64 crore.

Vadra has partnerships in limited liability firms such as Blue Breeze Trading LLP, North India IT Park LLP, and Sky Light Hospitality LLP, with total holdings of ₹ 35.5 crore, including a ₹31.93 crore balance in Sky Light Hospitality.

Vadra’s real estate portfolio in Gurugram, valued at ₹27.64 crore, was originally purchased for ₹2.78 crore, with an additional investment of ₹3.62 crore for development. He also has liabilities amounting to nearly ₹10 crore.

The Income Tax Department assessment proceedings began on March 28, 2023 over Vadra’s tax returns from 2010 to 2021. The total demand raised is ₹80 crore, with the largest sum of ₹24.16 crore for the 2019-20 assessment year. Vadra has appealed the demands, and these cases are pending, the affidavit said. His declared income for 2023-24 was Rs 15.09 lakh, which seems to have dropped significantly from the ₹55.58 lakh he declared for 2019-20.

Meanwhile, Priyanka declared an income of ₹46.39 lakh for the last financial year.

Also read: ‘Campaigned for others for 35 years, doing first time for myself’: Priyanka in Wayanad

FIRs

PTI reported that Priyanka has two FIRs against her and a forest department notice. One FIR, registered in Madhya Pradesh in 2023, alleges cheating and forgery under sections 420 and 469 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), based on a complaint on 'misleading' tweets.

The second FIR, filed in Uttar Pradesh in 2020, charges Priyanka with violations under IPC sections 188, 269, and 270 for her protest against the Hathras incident. Both Priyanka and her brother, Rahul Gandhi, were booked for violating prohibitory orders and the Epidemic Diseases Act during the COVID-19 pandemic as they tried to meet the family of a Dalit rape victim.

BJP criticism

Meanwhile, BJP lashed out at the Congress party and its general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi, over alleged discrepancies in her asset declaration for the Wayanad parliamentary seat candidacy. Interacting with the media, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the assets declared by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her poll affidavit are way below the assets she and her husband Robert Vadra possess.

"Assets of Robert Vadra declared in the poll affidavit are lower than the Income Tax Department's demand.... The total demand raised by Income Tax Department is ₹75 crore," he said, alleging that Priyanka's poll affidavit is 'confession of corruption' committed by the Gandhi family and Robert Vadra.

Bhatia alleged that there were inconsistencies in the declared net worth of Priyanka Gandhi's husband, Robert Vadra. He said that it appears significantly undervalued compared to pending tax demands from the Income Tax Department. These claims have triggered a war of words between the two rival parties, with the BJP calling for greater transparency and accountability from the Congress party.