Sahara scam: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has assured that the irregularities in the Sahara Group case are being investigated thoroughly and the culprits will be punished.
Responding in the Lok Sabha, she said that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is closely investigating the matter. In this entire process being monitored by the Supreme Court, the government is working on the guidelines of the court itself.
Why did only small investors come forward
The minister raised an important question why only small investors have come forward in such a big scam? On this, he said that SFIO is getting to the bottom of the whole matter.
It is also being seen where the rest of the investors are and why they did not come. Overall, a clear picture will emerge only after the completion of the SFIO investigation, and only then further action can be taken.
The entire matter under the the Supreme Court
The minister said that this entire matter is under the strict supervision of the Supreme Court and the government is working on the guidelines of the Supreme Court itself.
He said, “It is true that till now only small investors have come to get their money back. SFIO is investigating the whole matter. It is also looking into why the rest of the investors are not asking for their money back and where are they.”
3.7 crore investors, but only 19 thousand claimants
About 3.7 crore people had invested money in Sahara Group companies. But till now only 19,650 people have come forward to get their money back.
Out of these, the claims of 17,250 people have been accepted, but some more documents have been sought from the rest.
Government’s compulsion
The Finance Minister made it clear that even if the Central Government wants, it cannot do anything in the Sahara case because the whole matter is under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
He said that according to the information given to the Parliament in December 2023, the investigation of three companies of Sahara Group was handed over to SFIO in 2018.
Now it remains to be seen how soon the SFIO investigation will be completed and how many people have lost how much money in this scam.
The biggest question is whether all the culprits will really be punished and how will crores of innocent investors get their money back.