The BJP said the Congress ended up with “egg on its face” after the ICICI Bank denied paying any salary or granting any ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) to SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch after her retirement from the bank, other than her retiral benefits.
The fresh flashpoint between the BJP and Congress comes after the latter accused the SEBI chairperson of “holding an office of profit at ICICI Bank”, and receiving an income of Rs 16.80 crore between 2017 and 2024 after she became a full-time member of the market regulator in 2017.
Calling it Congress’s attempt to “peddle a bogus agenda”, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya said, “Congress picks it up from where Hindenburg Research left, targets the SEBI chief, ends up with egg on its face.”
The Congress called the ICICI Bank response “wishywashy” and said a full counter would be given on Tuesday at 2 pm.
The BJP’s Malviya was quick to hit back, asking the Congress if it had not received any help from associates atHindenburg.
“Rather strange. Congress had a press statement out on the long and concocted Hindenburg Research report, almost immediately, that too around midnight. But 9.27pm is a late hour for a statement on ICICI Bank’s rather small note?No help from the Associates at Hindenburg this time?” Malviya tweeted.
