NAGPUR: Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari made a discreet entry and quiet exit from the income tax office at Saraf Chambers here on Thursday. He was present in the office between 5pm and 9.20pm and was questioned by income tax officials about the alleged dubious investments in Purti Group.
Agency reports said that Gadkari was questioned by Geetha Ravichandran, the director of I-T (Investigations) here. Sunil Umap, the additional director of investigations, who followed Gadkari out of the building, refused to say anything. "I cannot comment," was all Umap told TOI.
Gadkari was slated to appear before I-T officials on Friday. It is learnt that he sought an appointment with Ravichandran for Thursday as he is set to fly out to New Delhi on Friday afternoon to attend the party's core committee meeting. The I-T top officials agreed to Gadkari's request.
Party workers informed that the ex-BJP chief was accompanied by his elder son Nikhil who is the joint MD of Purti Group.
A source in the IT office said that during the quizzing Gadkari was asked to explain about the several media reports about the queer money trail in Purti Group's shell companies. "It was more of an enquiry into the media reports than a questioning," said the source.
Earlier this month, Purti Group's chartered accountant Ravi Chinchwadkar had appeared before I-T officials and submitted a 25-page document in reply to questions regarding Gadkari's personal transactions and investments related to the Purti Group of companies. Gadkari's staff had then indicated that he may or may not appear before the I-T officials, who had issued summons, on February 1.
Gadkari has steadfastly denied allegations of any wrongdoing and said that he has resigned from the Purti Group. However, agency reports said that the taxmen have found details of almost 30 companies that have been "in transaction" with Purti Power and Sugar Limited, which is part of Purti Group.
On January 22, I-T officials had conducted on-field inquiries at 11 premises in Mumbai belonging to alleged shell companies related to Purti group and found no trace of these entities at their given addresses. The next day, Gadkari pulled out of the race for a second term as the BJP national president. On January 25 on his arrival in Nagpur, Gadkari also issued indirect threats to the taxmen that when BJP comes to power there would be nobody to take care of them. When the Indian Revenue Services' body expressed shock over Gadkari's statements and sought an apology, he did a volte face.
Gadkari advances ‘date’ with I-T officials, quizzed
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Gadkari advances ‘date’ with I-T officials, quizzed
