He told the Prime Minister that the Mhaiskars have in the past "invested" crores in the business companies of the Gadkari family and Nikhil Gadkari, son of Nitin Gadkari, was the shareholder and promoter-director in Ideal Energy Projects Ltd of IRB Group.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding action against Union Minister Nitish Gadkari and alleged that the awarding of Rs 10,050 crore Zojila pass tunnel contract to IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd was a case of "conflict of interest and quid pro quo".
"The association of Gadkari with the Mhaiskar family, the promoters of IRB is worst kept secret....This is a glaring example of conflict of interest and quid pro quo.....I look forward to your response to check this blatant act of favouritism and nepotisim in your government," Singh said in the letter. He told the Prime Minister that the Mhaiskars have in the past "invested" crores in the business companies of the Gadkari family and Nikhil Gadkari, son of Nitin Gadkari, was the shareholder and promoter-director in Ideal Energy Projects Ltd of IRB Group.
"It is said that Ceaser's wife must be above suspicion. But since you have vowed that 'na khaunga, na khane dunga', we hope that you keep that in mind and take action," he said, adding that he has also attached few official documents to establish his contention. He also expressing hope that PM would go deeper into the matter to unearth the truth and would "not shy" from referring the matter to CBI for prosecution.
"I request you to kindly examine the matter and take necessary actions immediately so as also to ensure that the first instalment of Rs 981 crore is withheld till proper inquiry is made," he said. Singh wrote the letter a day after he demanded immediate sacking of Gadkari alleging that the awarding of the contract was a "clear case of corruption at the highest level". He also told the Prime Minister that Gadkari, heading the Road Transport and Highways Ministry, has allegedly violated the CVC guidelines while awarding the contract.
However, Gadkari has rubbished the charges of corruption and said Singh's allegations were "completely false" as the Ministry followed a transparent e-tender system. He also denied that his son was a director in IRB Infrastructure Developers. Singh had claimed that what was strange and unheard of is that the IRB was the sole bidder for the massive project in Jammu and Kashmir. He has said government should have gone in for the Swiss challenge method.
Swiss challenge is a form of public procurement which requires a public authority which has received an unsolicited bid for a public project (such as a port, road or railway) or services to be provided to government, to publish the bid and invite third parties to match or exceed it.
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