Top Scams Of The Indian National Congress

Scams of the Indian National Congress from 1947 Onwards

The Indian National Congress (INC), which played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle, has also been marred by several scams and corruption scandals over the decades. From the time of independence in 1947 to the present, numerous allegations of financial misconduct, crony capitalism, and misuse of power have emerged against the party. This article highlights some of the most notorious scams that occurred under Congress rule.

1. Jeep Scandal (1948)

One of the first major scams post-independence was the Jeep Scandal of 1948. This involved the purchase of military jeeps from Britain to strengthen the newly formed Indian Army. V.K. Krishna Menon, then the High Commissioner to the UK, signed a contract worth Rs. 80 lakh with a foreign company without following proper procedures. The deal resulted in the delivery of only a fraction of the promised vehicles, and the matter was never fully investigated, setting a precedent for future corruption cases.

2. Mundhra Scandal (1957)

The Mundhra scandal was one of the first major financial scams that rocked the Congress-led government under Jawaharlal Nehru. Haridas Mundhra, a businessman, manipulated the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to invest Rs. 1.26 crore in his loss-making companies. The scam was exposed in Parliament, leading to the resignation of then-Finance Minister T.T. Krishnamachari.

3. Bofors Scam (1980s)

The Bofors scandal is one of the most infamous cases of corruption in Indian history. It involved a deal between the Indian government and the Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors AB for the purchase of 155mm field howitzers. Investigations revealed that kickbacks worth Rs. 64 crore were paid to Indian politicians and defense officials. The name of then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was allegedly linked to the scam, which significantly dented the credibility of the Congress Party.

4. Harshad Mehta Scam (1992)

Though not directly linked to Congress leaders, the Harshad Mehta securities scam took place under the Narasimha Rao government. Harshad Mehta, a stockbroker, exploited loopholes in the banking system to siphon off Rs. 4,000 crore from banks to manipulate stock prices. Reports suggested that he paid Rs. 1 crore to then-Prime Minister Narasimha Rao to cover up the scam, though the allegations were never proven.

5. JMM Bribery Scandal (1993)

During the tenure of P.V. Narasimha Rao, members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) were bribed to vote in favor of the government during a no-confidence motion in Parliament. It was later revealed that huge sums of money were deposited in the accounts of JMM leaders to secure their support. While some politicians were convicted, Narasimha Rao escaped legal action.

6. 2G Spectrum Scam (2008)

One of the largest scams in India’s history, the 2G spectrum scam, took place under the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government led by Congress. It involved the illegal allocation of telecom spectrum licenses at throwaway prices, causing an estimated loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer. The then-Telecom Minister A. Raja was arrested, and though Congress distanced itself from him, the scam severely damaged the party’s reputation.

7. Commonwealth Games Scam (2010)

The 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) held in Delhi were overshadowed by massive corruption allegations. Reports suggested that over Rs. 70,000 crore were misappropriated through inflated contracts, poor-quality construction, and financial irregularities. Suresh Kalmadi, a Congress leader and chairman of the organizing committee, was arrested for his role in the scam.

8. Coal Block Allocation Scam (2012)

Often referred to as ‘Coalgate,’ this scam involved the allocation of coal blocks without proper bidding, leading to an estimated loss of Rs. 1.86 lakh crore. The scandal occurred under the UPA government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also held the coal portfolio during some of the controversial allocations. The CBI investigated the matter, and several politicians and business entities were implicated.

9. AgustaWestland Helicopter Scam (2013)

This scam involved the purchase of 12 helicopters for VVIPs from AgustaWestland, a British-Italian company. It was revealed that bribes worth Rs. 360 crore were paid to Indian officials, including those linked to the Congress party, to secure the deal. Though several arrests were made, the case remains unresolved.

10. National Herald Case (2014-Present)

The National Herald case involves Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who were accused of misusing party funds to acquire Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of National Herald. It was alleged that the party assets worth thousands of crores were illegally transferred to a private company, Young Indian Ltd., in which the Gandhis held a majority stake. The case is still under investigation.

Conclusion

From the Jeep Scandal in 1948 to the ongoing National Herald case, the Indian National Congress has been embroiled in multiple scams spanning over seven decades. These scams have not only caused significant financial losses to the nation but have also eroded public trust in the political system. While some leaders have faced legal consequences, many have escaped unscathed due to political influence. As India progresses, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance remains crucial to preventing such large-scale corruption in the future.