FB post to be probed in Rajnath son controversy

The denial by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of rumours that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pulled up Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s son for “alleged misconduct” has not laid the issue to rest.

The Home Ministry is now planning to probe a Facebook post on the episode, which was reported widely.

Sources said ministry officials had traced the Facebook post made from the profile of one Manish Kumar. The home minister has now ordered officials to trace  the person’s identity. However, the sources added that it could be a fake profile. Singh met some officials and close aides, asking them to initiate legal proceedings.

The rumours about Modi pulling up Singh’s politician son Pankaj have been circulating in Delhi’s power corridors for the past fortnight. Singh raised the issue with Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, besides Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh top leadership.

Sources said Singh initially felt the rumours would subside, but instead they gained momentum. Singh, who spoke to the media for the first time about the episode on Tuesday, also acknowledged this.

His comments were followed by a statement from the PMO and the BJP chief. The home minister had said he would quit politics if any of the allegations were proved right.

In its statement, the PMO described the reports as “plain lies”, saying they were “motivated” and constitute a “malicious attempt at character assassination and tarnishing the image” of the government.