'The CBI wants to victimise me'

Says Niranjan Hiranandani, in an interview with Ketan Ranga

After the CBI claimed it had filed a chargesheet against the Hiranandani builders and 25 others in connection with a multi-crore employees provident fund evasion case, MiD DAY decided to speak with one of the prime accused, Niranjan Hiranandani, managing director, Hiranandani Construction.

The builder said he hasn't received any chargesheet so far and that he is being victimised by the CBI because the CBI wants to make an example out of him for others.

What is your reaction to the chargesheet filed by the CBI against you and 25 others?
The CBI is yet to file a chargesheet against us. They are going to do that on October 28. We haven't got any chargesheet so far.

Niranjan Hiranandani

As the main accused, how do you see this case?
The CBI has admitted that there is no liability regarding provident funds on the part of Hiranandani Construction or its employees. The liability on my part is zero. The CBI had earlier filed a case for Rs 168 crore, but now they have come down to Rs 9.37 crore. This amount is also liable to be paid by the contractors to their employees.
The judge has made it clear in the bail application that if the Hiranandani firm is required to pay this amount it has to be reimbursed by the contractor. Hence our liability is zero.

But you are being accused of the payment, as you are the principal employer and the contractors worked for you?
Yes, I am the principal employer. But we are disputing the fact that
we are bound to pay anyone.

Has the CBI filed any other case of fraud and cheating against you?
The CBI wants to victimise me. I have been victimised for no reason for the last two years. There are many other builders, but the CBI is only onto us.

Why would the CBI only go after you?
That, I think, the CBI should know. I am not going to ask. They want to make a perfect example out of us. After us, they will go behind other builders as well.
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What will be you course of action?
Nothing. We will see once the CBI files the chargesheet.u00a0