India's Congress alleges link between Modi, illegal money transfer operator

India's ruling Congress party Monday launched a scathing attack on the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, linking him to a businessman allegedly involved in money laundering.

The Congress party released photographs of Modi with Afroze Patta who, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala claimed, was raided by authorities last month in connection with a multi-million dollar hawala or money laundering case in the western state of Gujarat.

"Will Mr. Modi agree to an independent probe," the Congress spokesman asked.

The attack on Modi came a day after the BJP released a video to target Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra over his alleged land deals in the northern state of Haryana and the western state of Rajasthan.

India is in the midst of general elections, which began on April 7 and will end on May 12, with results due on May 16.

Opinion polls have suggested that the BJP will form the next government with Modi as the prime minister while the Congress party is facing tough challenges due to its failure to tackle corruption and inflation.