Emmar MGF says Rahul Gandhi bought shops at market rates

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) Real estate company Emaar MGF on Wednesday said the allegations against it by BJP's Lok Sabha member Kirit Somaiya were "completely baseless" and that it had sold two shops in the Metropolitan Saket Mall to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in December 6, 2005, at market rates.

The company's response came on a day Somaiya raked up the AgustaWestland chopper deal in the Lok Sabha.

"Those involved in the helicopter scam have been found indulging in corrupt practices with some Indian companies," Somaiya said, raising the issue during zero hour.

Somaiya said two of the accused in the alleged scam -- Gautam Khaitan and Guido Haschke -- were also "involved" in other companies and as per a SEBI report, incorporated as directors in real estate company Emaar MGF.

Without taking names, he said, "earlier, we knew a jijaji (brother-in-law) does these things in Haryana, now a politician is also involved in buying and selling properties".

The remarks led to angry reactions from the Congress members. Party president Sonia Gandhi was also present in the house.

In its statement on Wednesday, Emmar MGF said the shops were never leased nor bought back by the company from Rahul Gandhi.

It said allegations against the company levied by Somaiya were "completely false, baseless and malicious in nature" and added that the company reserves its right to take appropriate legal remedy in this matter.

The statement said the group company had sold two shops in Metropolitan Saket Mall to Rahul Gandhi in December 6, 2005.

Giving details, it said the rate per square foot was Rs.9,750 and total sale value was Rs.97,20,555 and Rs.50,15,790, respectively.

It said that as per the records, the shops were further sold to Worli Realty Private Limited on February 4, 2010.

"Worli Realty Private Limited is not related to any of our companies and/or promoters," it said.

"The transaction was commercial and commensurate with market rate of the day, a fact evident from records of other transactions during same period. This entire transaction is transparent and has been well disclosed publicly in the past. Furthermore, this information has been in public domain for a long time," the statement said.

Somaiya had sent a missive to the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation and said Kanishka Singh, an aide of Rahul Gandhi, held shares in Emaar MGF, a real estate company that also had Haschke as director.

Both the Congress and Kanishka Singh had dubbed the allegations as baseless and false.

Emaar MGF had also issued a statement on Tuesday, saying the company had no business links with Kanishka Singh while Guido Haschke was its independent director for a "brief period in 2009".