RISHI Sunak has rejected suggestions his wife has financial links to Vladimir Putin’s regime.

The Chancellor, appearing on morning broadcast rounds following his Spring Statement on Wednesday, was challenged over claims his family is profiting from Kremlin operations while he urged businesses to cut ties with Russia.

The Tory minister told UK firms to “think carefully” about investing in Russian ventures that would benefit Putin as Boris Johnson’s government imposes sanctions.

Sunak’s wife Akshata Murthy is the daughter of Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy, estimated to be worth around £3.1 billion.

She holds a stake in her father’s firm Infosys, which is reported to operate in Moscow and have links to a major Russian bank. The company also has four offices in the UK.

Quizzed about the reports on Sky News, Sunak was asked by host Jayne Secker: “Are you giving advice to others that you are not following in your own home?”

He replied: “I’m an elected politician and I’m here to talk to you about what I’m responsible for. My wife is not.”

Pressed on whether his family is potentially “benefitting from Putin’s regime”, the Chancellor stated: “I don’t think that is the case. As I said, the operations of all companies are up to them.

“We have put in place significant sanctions and all the companies that we are responsible for are following those – as they rightly should – sending a very strong message to Putin’s aggression.”

Sky News then asked if Infosys is doing likewise. “I have absolutely no idea because I have nothing to do with that company,” Sunak said.