George Of The Bungle

The last word has yet to be said on the case against Vincent George, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's private secretary, for possessing dispoportionate assets. If pursued vigorously, officials in the cbi and Enforcement Directorate believe, it could throw up the names of politicians and journalists, some close to the PM.

The timing of the cbi case against George bang in the middle of the Tehelka storm does raise questions about the agency's autonomy and professionalism. Privately, some cbi officers concede its case against George could give political rivals much-needed ammo to question the Congress' credentials. "Maybe we could've waited, or filed the case as soon as it was ready," said an official. In the event, the case has forced partymen to rally around George, even his many critics who see it as a bid to embarrass Sonia and deflect focus from the bjp's woes. Had the case been registered in the normal course, some cwc members say, the party wouldn't have interfered.

As it stands, the case could well open up a can of worms. Some investigating officials admit as much. "There are some dimensions to the case that could be interesting," says a senior official. The cbi's contention that it registered a Source Information Report (sir) on January 22 last year against George on the basis of a disclosure statement by former ED deputy director Ashok Aggarwal is true. But that's just part of the picture. Aggarwal, arrested by the cbi on December 22, 1999, after being on the lam for over two weeks, was close to Abhishek Verma, son of former Congress MP Veena Verma. Abhishek, now fighting a fera case, had recorded a confessional statement under Section 164 before Rajnish Kumar, metropolitan magistrate. This statement is a veritable bombshell.

The "explosive" confession names a host of politicians whom he allegedly helped out. In addition, Abhishek is learnt to have revealed how Aggarwal used to extort businessmen and how he sought the services of politicians and mediapersons close to the bjp, including some names which could embarrass the top leadership. Investigators say the case against George was largely based on evidence culled from Abhishek's interrogation. In fact, a desperate Congress sent many emissaries, including current Chattisgarh CM Ajit Jogi and MPs Suresh Pachauri and Mabel Rabello, to try and persuade Abhiskek to recant.

That the CBI has been painstakingly collecting dope on George's properties, assets and bank accounts for over a year was known in political circles. He himself was questioned some six times by the agency, as was his wife, Lily. The case against him was ready a couple of months ago. The cbi says George's assets and properties, worth at least Rs 3 crore, were acquired between November '84 and December '90. It argues that George—as PS to Rajiv Gandhi when he was the premier and then the leader of the Opposition—was by definition a public servant. According to the cbi, there was a substantial jump in the declared assets of George and his family members after December '90, indicating that he didn't reveal his real income while in public service. The cbi is also trying to establish how he received Rs 2 crore through the amnesty scheme during November 1999 from the sbi Flushing Meadow branch in New York.

A section of the Congress feels it'd make fine political strategy to "sacrifice" George in the light of the cbi case. This would put renewed pressure on Vajpayee to sack pmo officials Brajesh Mishra and N.K. Singh, whose actions are under a cloud.Failure to act against George would surely weaken the Congress' noisy campaign against the government. "Taking the issue to the people may also lack punch if Sonia doesn't act against George," says a party MP.

But it is clear from Sonia Gandhi's decision—she directed the media cell of the aicc, headed by Ambika Soni, to defend George—that she is not willing to sacrifice him. At least for the moment. But whatever Sonia's stand on George might be, it remains to be seen if the authorities will take the case ahead.