Venod Sharma has assets worth Rs 140 crore, but no vehicle

Venod Sharma, chief of the newly-floated Haryana Jan Chetna Party who is contesting the Assembly polls from Ambala City, has assets worth over Rs 140 crore, but does not possess any vehicle. As per the affidavit filed by him before the Returning Officer at Ambala City today, Sharma has movable assets worth Rs 115.98 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 24.21 crore. He, however, has no vehicle registered in his name.

Sharma owns jewellery worth Rs 5.60 lakh, precious stones valued at Rs 15 lakh and watches worth Rs 5 lakh. His immovable assets include residential, commercial and agriculture lands in New Delhi, Ambala, Kullu, Chandigarh, Solan and Manali. He also has FDRs and deposits in different banks worth over Rs 150 lakh, as per the affidavit. Sharma's wife Shakti Rani, who is contesting the polls from Kalka Assembly seat, has moveable assets worth Rs 11.43 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 1.50 crore. She owns jewellery worth Rs 45.7 lakh.

Born on January 10, 1948, Sharma was formerly a member of Congress and represented Punjab as an MP in the Rajya Sabha (1992-1998). In 1999, he resigned from Congress after his son Manu Sharma's involvement in the Jessica Lal murder case. Sharma made a comeback in 2004 and won the Haryana Assembly elections from Ambala City. He was re-elected from the same constituency in 2009. Sharma had been associated with Congress for 40 years. On April 19, 2014, Sharma was expelled from Congress for allegedly campaigning against it in general elections. On May 2 this year, he resigned as an MLA and on June 23, founded Haryana Jan Chetna Party.