Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s senior minister holding independent charge of departments like energy, petrochemicals and mines Saurabh Patel has informed the Election Commission (EC) that he is son-in-law of the Ambani family.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejrival had created controversy last month by alleging that Modi’s minister Saurabh Patel was son-in-law of the Ambani family and a relative of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.
Kejrival had also alleged that Modi government was indulging in corrupt practices by granting sops and favours to Ambani’s company.
Patel in turn filed a complaint of violation of the model code of conduct with the EC against Kejrival.
Acting on the complaint, the EC wrote a letter to Patel asking him to clarify his relationship with the Ambani family. Patel first delayed the reply but when the EC sent a reminder he filed his reply.
Talking to mediapersons here, Patel said that the EC had sought some supplementary information from him on his complaint and he has filed the reply that he is the son-in-law of Ramnikbhai Ambani, the brother of Reliance Industries’ late chairman Dhirubhai Ambani in 1986.
‘I have nothing to hide, I have furnished the details sought by the EC,’ he said.
Meanwhile, the EC has also written to the General Administration Department (GAD) of the state government seeking the details of the portfolios held by Patel. The EC is expected to take a decision on Patel’s complaint against Kejrival after it gets reply by the GAD. (UNI)