NEW DELHI: Ousted Cabinet minister Asim Ahmed Khan presented builder Javed Khan to the press on Saturday evening to counter the corruption charge against him. Javed is allegedly the third person in the audio recording that became the basis for Asim’s removal. He owns the building for which a bribe of Rs 6 lakh was allegedly paid through a middleman.

Javed admitted the building in question belongs to him but denied that Asim took Rs 6 lakh through a middleman. “I am simply constructing a four-storey residential house in the Walled City, as thousands of other people do regularly. Since yesterday, journalists have been coming to my building and clicking pictures. I have no knowledge of any bribe being given or taken, and I do not know Asim Ahmed Khan except as a minister, and I have never had a conversation with him,” Javed said, adding, “I don’t even have his phone number. There has been no monetary transaction either.’’

Asked why he had come to Asim’s press briefing, Javed said he wanted to clear the air as his building was caught in the controversy. “I do not know about any audio recording. I just want to clear my name,’’ he said.

