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Raja's assets nearly doubled in last fiscal

NEW DELHI: Given the mind-boggling figures thrown up by the CAG report on the 2G scam, the gains seem rather modest. But in the year gone by, former telecom minister A Raja's finances have shown a healthy growth with regard to both income and investments. His political career may be headed south, but Raja's finances are in the pink of health. Not only has his personal income increased from Rs 11.47 lakh to Rs 22.12 lakh from 2009 to 2010, there is a substantial hike in investments in shares from Rs 8.52 lakh to Rs 23 lakh in the same period. While the DMK leader was forced to resign following the controversy over the 2G spectrum scam, his DMK colleague -- chemical and fertilizer minister M K Alagiri -- has not done badly either. He has acquired five plots of land in Madurai worth Rs 14 lakh in addition to three he already owned, taking the total value to Rs 89 lakh. These and other details of assets of the council of ministers have been revealed under RTI in response to an application by activist S C Agrawal. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel continues to be the wealthiest minister with an increase from Rs 30 crore to Rs 38 crore, thanks to assets including property in Mumbai, Gujarat and jewellery. Roads and highways minister Kamal Nath, who has substantial investments in the stock market, has acquired a Nano while defence minister A K Antony has bought a second-hand Wagon R -- through a bank loan. He is followed by minister of state Jyotiraditya Scindia whose assets including about 10 properties in Gwalior like Rani Mahal, Shanti Niketan and Hiravan Kaothi have increased from Rs 22.73 crore to Rs 24 crore. Even the frugal Trimnamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's assets have increased from Rs 6.7 lakh to Rs 10.28 lakh, though the increase is hardly eye-catching. NCP chief Sharad Pawar's investments have increased the value of his assets from Rs 1.82 crore to Rs 2.09 crore. Oil minister Murli Deora's assets have grown from Rs 9.98 crore to Rs 14.2 crore with an increase in stocks and shares. Corporate affairs minister Salman Khurshid bought agricultural land in Noida worth Rs 1.3 crore to add to existing property in Nainital and Farrukhabad district in Uttar Pradesh. His wife has been gifted two apartments in Goa's posh Calangute area worth Rs 8.23 lakh. While rural development minister C P Joshi's assets have gone up from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 64 lakh, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's bank account shows an accretion from Rs 22.7 to Rs 28.90 lakh. Foreign minister S M Krishna's wealth has increased from Rs 1.14 crore to Rs 1.47 crore. There has been a marginal increase in the bank deposits of heavy industry minister Vilasrao Deshmukh from Rs 3.04 crore to Rs 3.48 crore. Food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay's assets have increased from Rs 4.7 lakh to Rs 8.7 lakh and his new acquisitions this financial year include bookings of two apartments worth Rs 43 lakh, a mobile phone worth Rs 6,350 and an exercise machine.

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