Shashi Tharoor-IPL controversy: Congress to take view after all facts come out

After distancing itself from the controversy surrounding minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor on the IPL issue, Congress today said it may take a view on it after all the facts come out.

"The party may take a view after all the facts come out," party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said.

Dwivedi had said yesterday that the party had nothing to do with the controversy. "Let him explain. Let others explain what is the truth," he had said.

Tharoor, 54, is battling allegations that a beautician romantically linked to him had received Rs70 crore free equity in Kochi IPL team.

Tharoor's latest troubles started with the IPL commissioner Lalit Modi publicly disclosing the names of some of the owners of a consortium that recently bought the Kochi IPL franchise for a whopping $333 million.

Rendezvous Sports World private limited, the company that led the consortium, received 25% free equity.

Out of this free equity, 19% is said to have gone to Sunanda Pushkar, a Kashmiri beautician closely linked to Tharoor who is reportedly planning to marry her after divorcing his second wife, a Canadian. This equity is valued at nearly $16 million (approximately Rs70 crore).

Tharoor admitted "mentoring" the consortium and said in a statement that "Rendezvous includes a number of people including many I have never met, and Sunanda Pushkar, whom I know well."

He has denied any wrongdoing.