New Delhi, July 14
Bharatiya Janata Party office secretary Shyam Jaju -- a virtual permanent fixture at 11, Ashoka Road -- has made himself scarce following reports of major financial bungling.

In a written statement issued in his name yesterday, Jaju said: “I am shocked to see the news about issuing of summons to me by ACMM Ajay Pandey regarding alleged involvement in financial irregularities. When one Chandan Jha went to the bank and enquired into my personal details to defame me, an FIR (no. 12/2010) was lodged against him.”

Jaju’s statement came after reports of some disclosures at the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ajay Pandey in Patiala House here yesterday when the case pertaining to FIR 12/2010 came up for hearing. On an earlier date, the magistrate had disclosed that he had received an anonymous letter alleging financial bungling of crores by Jaju through different bank accounts and three PAN Cards. Under the law, a person can have only one PAN card. Jaju had denied this.

The magistrate had apparently referred the matter to the income-tax department, whose officers seem to have turned up for the hearing yesterday and alleged that Jaju had been indulging in large illegal financial dealings even though he had filed returns of Rs 2 to 3 lakh. They also alleged that a week earlier, Jaju was trying to leave the country carrying jewellery and other items worth crores.

Jaju’s statement added: “As a patriotic and law abiding citizen of this country I undertake to cooperate with any investigative agency at any point of time,” virtually confirming that some investigations were on.