Kapil Sibal says he’ll file defamation case against Smriti Irani

"I am surprised [Irani] did a press conference and did not ask why the Prime Minister has close relations with Nirav Modi. BJP leaders should tell us about their relations with Lalit Modi," said senior Congress leader and former Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday.

Sibal was responding to allegations made earlier on Thursday by Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani, at a press conference in which she accused Sibal of being involved in a "land scam" during his tenure as Law Minister. Irani alleged that he bought a piece of land in Delhi worth crores for a "very small price" from an accused in a money laundering case.

Referring to a report by a website alleging that Sibal acquired the land worth crores by paying just ₹1 lakh, Smriti Irani alleged that Sibal and his wife got the ownership of a company, Grande Castello, from one Piyoosh Goyal, a businessman.

She said some details about Sibal's acquisition of the company and his dealings with Goyal were first published in January by some investigative journalists based in South Africa. Irani also claimed that the then UPA government had ordered a probe against Goyal then.

Sibal rejected the charges, saying the Minister, who does not know the definition of money laundering, was making an allegation.

"I bought a company, paid for it, paid from my income... I earn well. My Income Tax return is upto date, I have also filed corporate tax returns. You do not want to see records and allege money laundering," he said.

Asked if he would file a defamation case, Sibal said yes.