Party spokesman Ms Supriya Shrinate also flags transparency in the functioning of the Lokpal
NEW DELHI — The Congress on Thursday questioned an astronomical increase in the assets of the wife of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey within a span of about 15 years from Rs 50 lakhs in 2009 to Rs 31.32 crores in 2024.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, party spokesperson and Chairperson of the Social Media and Digital Platforms, Ms Supriya Shrinate demanded a clarification from the couple and also noted that this also raised questions about the transparency in the functioning of the Lokpal in the country.
Quoting the details furnished by Nishikant Dubey in his election affidavits since 2009, she said his wife Anamika Gautam had movable assets worth Rs 50 lakhs in 2019, while she did not have any immovable assets then.
In the 2014 election affidavit, Dubey mentioned his wife’s movable assets worth Rs 1.03 crores, while she had accumulated immovable assets worth Rs 5.53 crores.
In 2019, her movable assets had gone up to Rs 3.72 crores, while her immovable assets had gone up to Rs 9.35 crores, making the total assets worth Rs 13.06 crores.
In 2024, her total assets, both movable and immovable, were worth about Rs 40 crores, of which Rs 8 crores were debt claimed to have been taken from various people.
She disclosed that one of the debtors, Abhishek Jha, whom Dubeys claimed to have loaned her Rs 1.20 crore, had denied that he had provided any loan. She said there was no record or transaction of loan anywhere. Interestingly, she added, Jha had contested as an independent candidate against Dubey in the parliamentary elections.
Ms Shrinate noted that there were no details of the rest of the loan amount as to how it had been procured or whether it was an unsecured loan.
Seeking clarification from the Dubey couple, she also called for a thorough probe, saying the assets of Mrs Dubey did not match her income during these years.
She said this was an open and shut case of corruption, as Dubeys possessed assets disproportionate to their income.
Even the income itself, she noted, had shown unprecedented increase during this period. From an annual income of under Rs 4 lakhs in FY14 Mrs Dubey’s income skyrocketed to 2.16 crore in FY18. Her income was substantially lower than assets that have since been created.
The Congress spokesperson also questioned the silence of the prime minister, the home minister, the BJP and Nishikant Dubey himself. Otherwise, she pointed out, he (Dubey) is known for making senseless statements on anything and everything.
She pointed out the double standards of the Narendra Modi government, saying while the opposition leaders were booked on false and baseless charges, no action was being taken against the BJP’s own leaders.
Ms Shrinate quoted the Lokpal orders following a complaint filed with it on May 24, 2025. She said the Lokpal had on July 24 sought a reply from Dubey within four weeks. She said nothing was known so far as whether Dubey had submitted any reply or not. This has raised questions about the transparent functioning of the Lokpal also, she said.
