At a time when everyone is gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Tamil Nadu is also set to conduct its by-polls. But what has caught the attention of people is the declaration made by the Indhiya Janata Katchi candidate J Mohanraj. What is even more surprising is that the Election Commission has accepted it without any qualms.
Chennai: Chennai’s “Richie Rich” is none other than Perambur candidate J Mohanraj who belongs to the Indhiya Janata Katchi and has filed his nomination to contest in the upcoming by-polls.
This title has been given to Mohanraj after he made tall claims in his affidavit stating that he has Rs 1.76 lakh crore in personal assets and a “Rs 4 lakh crore loan with the World Bank”.
Son of a veteran freedom fighter and Congressman from Tamil Nadu, Mohanraj Jebamani declares that the money lost in the 2G spectrum case was his in-hand cash.
He also claimed that the loan amount of Tamil Nadu (Rs 4 lakh crore projected for 2020) is the same loan amount that he owes the World Bank currently.
Surprisingly, the Election Commission of India has accepted the affidavit without checking it or verifying the claims.
Mohanraj has declared that there are about 13 sovereigns of gold under his wife’s name along with a cash of Rs 20,000. This is estimated at Rs 2,70,000.
In 2009 as well, Mohanraj had declared Rs 1,977 crore in deposits and explained it as ‘patriotic duty’.
In a report by the Hindustan Times, Mohanraj is quoted as terming his move as 'patriotic duty' to show how the leaders were 'making a mockery' of the Supreme Court judgment and violating all electoral norms.
Hindustan Times also quoted him as saying, "If what the top political leaders have declared as their assets are correct, then mine is also correct."
"I will say that all my assets are in a Swiss Bank and if you bring back black money, my name will also be in that list,” said Mohanraj to HT in 2009.
Back then he had also declared four acres of land at Oothukottai village, 50 km from Chennai, seven acres in the same village in his wife’s name and 35 sovereigns of gold that his wife possessed which was then estimated at Rs 3.5 lakh.
Besides this, he claimed that he owned an apartment worth Rs 10 lakh in 2009 in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu by-polls as well as general elections will take place simultaneously on April 18.
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