Emaar MGF says has no business links with Rahul Gandhi's aide

Seeking to distance itself from the AgustaWestland row, realty firm Emaar MGF today said it has no "business links" with Rahul Gandhi's aide Kanishka Singh while Guido Hashke -- alleged middleman in the controversial chopper deal -- was an independent director for an "extremely brief period".

As BJP MP Kirit Somaiya dragged Singh's name into the controversy involving alleged kickbacks paid for the VVIP chopper deal, Emaar MGF termed the allegations as "baseless and incorrect." Emaar MGF, whose name has earlier cropped up in some other controversies as well including about the Commonwealth Games, is a joint venture between Dubai-based Emaar Properties and India's MGF Developments Ltd.

"We would further like to state that Mr Kanishka Singh has never had any direct or indirect business interest, including as a shareholder and/or promoter and/or Director, in Emaar MGF," the company said.

Clarifying on allegations that Singh' being related to the family of Indian promoter in the Emaar MGF, the company said, "the Indian promoter of Emaar MFG in 2007 had already separated from their earlier family businesses and have no linkages to the same thereafter." On the company's association with Guido R Hashke, Emaar MGF said that Hashke was an independent non-executive director for an extremely brief period of two months and twelve days only i.e. from September 25 to December 7 in 2009.