Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), Oct. 25 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj on Thursday defended party president Nitin Gadkari over dealings related to his Purti Group of companies, even as the UPA-II Government began a probe into the latter's activities.
Addressing a rally and a press conference in Mandi, Swaraj said Gadkari, who is in Nagpur, was not running away from the media.
"The Prime Minister says money does not grow on tree. I would like to tell him that money falls in the pockets of Congress leaders. Gadkari did not run away. He faced media and answered every query," Swaraj said.
Swaraj and L.K.Advani, another senior BJP leader, have in the last 24 hours, come out strongly in support of Gadkari inspite of growing allegations of corruption against him.
Under pressure over his dubious business dealings, the BJP president has opted to stay back in home town Nagpur.
Media reports have raised questions over the source of funds for Gadkari's Purti Power and Sugar Ltd.
The BJP president has stated that he is ready for any investigation into the antecedents of Purti Sugar and Power Limited.
The Corporate Affairs Ministry on Thursday said it is looking into investments made in his company.
"The matter is being looked into," a senior Corporate Affairs Ministry official said.
On Tuesday, Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily said that Registrars of Companies would inquire into the allegations.
Media reports claim that major investments and large loans to Purti were made by a construction firm Ideal Road Builders (IRB) group, which had won contracts between 1995 and 1999, when Gadkari was Maharashtra's Public Works Department Minister.
Gadkari has denied all the allegations and offered himself and his companies up for any probe. (ANI)
