New Delhi/Mumbai, Feb 27 (IANS) Union minister Nitin Gadkari Friday denied any wrongdoing after a media report said he had enjoyed a two-day holiday on a yatch owned by the Essar group on French Riviera.
An unruffled Gadkari told the media that he had gone "just to see" the yacht and stressed he never took any money from any corporate entity.
While the Congress said the Shashi Ruia-led Essar group was wooing Gadkari, the BJP made light of the Indian Express expose also involving Congress leaders and journalists.
In a related development, NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe by an Special Investigation Team or the Central Bureau of Investigation into the political-bureaucratic-corporate nexus wherein corporates extend all kind of favours to politicians and bureaucrats to push their business interests.
This came in the wake of expose revealing the Essar Group allegedly influencing and cultivating young law-makers, the bureaucracy, police and the media for advancing its business interests.
Speaking in Mumbai, Gadkari said: "I have never taken money from corporate groups for the tours. I was going to Norway with my family and I paid for the entire tour.
"I took a ride on the yacht as the Ruia family invited me upon learning my visit to Europe," the former BJP president said at the party's Maharashtra unit headquarters.
"I was not holding any public office... I was not an MP or MLA. It was a private tour. I have never taken money from any corporate (entity). I have done nothing wrong," said the road transport and highways minister.
Gadkari stepped down as BJP president after a controversy erupted over his alleged stakes in shell companies in January 2013.
Gadkari, who also holds the portfolio of shipping, said: "I am always eager to see new things. I could have even paid for the ticket had the Ruias issued tickets for boarding the yacht."
Asked about the ride on Essar group's helicopter from Nice to the yacht, he said: "There was no other option. The chopper belonged to the Ruias and there was no road on the sea that could have taken me (to the yacht)."
An Essar spokesperson said the company had not indulged in any wrongdoing.
"The newspaper article and media news are based on information that is stolen or fabricated.
"We have initiated legal action, and a compliant has been filed against suspected individuals responsible for stealing and fabricating documents from a private corporate organization which is as much an offence as theft from government department.
"The inferences being drawn from the information being published are completely false and incorrect," the spokesperson said.
Essar is a multinational with annual revenues of $35 billion and with investments in steel, energy, infrastructure and services. With operations in 29 countries, it employs over 60,000 people, says its web site.
Congress leader P.C. Chacko, however, said that no corporate would extend benefits to anyone for free.
He refused to accept Gadkari's argument that he was a nobody when, according to the Express, Essar sponsored the holiday for Gadkari and his family July 7-9, 2013.
If Gadkari was a "nobody", Essar "would not have taken him seriously", Chacko said. "They knew he is important in his party and also he is going to be someone more important, so they will get some benefit out of that."
The Bharatiya Janata Party was dismissive of the report. "This kind of news keeps coming every day," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
The Express report, based on internal Essar communication, detailed how the group cultivated individuals in positions of power and influence and showered them with gifts and favours to push its business interests.
Those who sought - and got - favours from Essar included politicians from other parties including the Congress as well as journalists.
The Express also said that Congress leaders Sriprakash Jaiswal, Digvijaya Singh and Motilal Vora - both former chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh - and BJP MP Varun Gandhi sought jobs in Essar for people they knew.
The Express said a whistleblower had decided to go public with internal company communications of the Essar group that allegedly show how it cultivated individuals in positions of power and influence.
Arbaaz Khan: Arbaaz raised questions on Shah Rukh Khan's hosting skills, saying- maybe people would find him pretentious
Bollywood actor and filmmaker Arbaaz Khan recently launched his new talk show 'The Invincibles with Arbaaz Khan'. In this show, he talks to film stars and makes new revelations about their personal
Is Imran Khan's government going to take such a big U-turn on Kashmir?
For the first time, Pakistan has formulated a national security policy. There are reports that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan can release it on Friday.
Bangalore: Ather Energy's production capacity increased three and a half times, 650 e-scooters are being made every day
E-scooter and charging station company Ather Energy will increase production capacity to 35 thousand e-scooters per month. On the launch of its second production plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, the
CBI probe into Sushant's death: Only thing left for CBI to find in Sushant case - date of the closure report
In the case of Sushant Singh Rajput's death, the CBI has registered a case against six people including Riya, but in the last 11 months, nothing has been done by the CBI. No arrest was made, no charge
Dragon's criticized sentence: Jack Ma, who has been missing for two months, is kept in jail by China?
Alibaba Group owner Jack Ma, one of the richest businessmen in China, has been reported by the Chinese media to be under the supervision of the Chinese government after being reported missing for the
Dispute on caste: Sameer Wankhede presents cast certificate in SC commission in Delhi, the commission seeks report from Maharashtra government
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede reached Delhi on Monday following allegations by Nawab Malik, a minister in the Maharashtra government. He reached the Scheduled Castes
IND vs SA Final Pitch Report: Who will get help at Kensington Oval, bowler or batsman? Know the pitch report
The final match of the T20 World Cup 2024 will be played between South Africa and India. The match will be played on Saturday, June 29 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown Barbados. Africa got the ticket to
New Year celebration: Masks are mandatory in Bangalore, whistling in public places is prohibited; know the condition of Delhi and Mumbai
The whole country is preparing for celebrations on New Year's Eve. In such a situation, security arrangements have been tightened. Police deployment has been increased in all major cities and some
PAK Army killed 33 terrorists: Hostage drama went on for 40 hours; Taliban did not even listen to 16 clerics
Army has killed 33 Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) terrorists who captured the Counter Terrorism Center (CTD) in the Bannu district of Pakistan. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif gave this information to the
Sheikh Hasina: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina talks with PM Modi today, seven agreements to be signed
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in India on Monday on a four-day visit to further expand ties between the two countries. On the first day of the visit, several issues were discussed in
