Politics

Laxmi Puri Declares Higher Assets and Income Than Husband Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha Bypoll Affidavit

By HT News Desk

Laxmi Puri, a retired Indian foreign service officer, has declared movable assets worth ₹10.66 crore in her Rajya Sabha by‑poll affidavit. Her annual income is ₹1.69 crore, more than double that of her husband, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who earns ₹75.57 lakh. Laxmi also owns a Geneva apartment valued at about 3 million Swiss francs, roughly ₹34 crore, and a house in Greater Noida worth ₹19.52 lakh. She has foreign‑currency holdings of $290,658 (≈₹2.75 crore). Her bank deposits amount to about ₹1.02 crore, higher than Puri’s ₹22.20 lakh. Puri’s movable assets total ₹6.54 crore and his bank deposits are ₹22.20 lakh. He declared immovable assets worth ₹20 crore, including a residential property in Delhi’s West End. Both spouses have ₹10,000 in cash and a vehicle valued at ₹32 lakh (Puri) or jewellery worth ₹45 lakh (Laxmi). They hold Public Provident Fund and Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme accounts totalling ₹20.54 lakh and ₹30 lakh respectively. Neither has any bank loans or liabilities. The affidavit also states that no criminal case is pending against Puri and he has never been convicted. Puri filed his nomination for the November 12 Rajya Sabha by‑poll from Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, after the BJP announced his candidature on October 28. The seat became vacant when Union minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan resigned on October 13. The nomination process was attended by Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav, BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal and other leaders. The Congress has criticised the BJP for nominating Puri, citing his past links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a claim Puri has denied. The affidavit was filed along with Puri’s nomination papers on Saturday.