PAC open to probing allegations: KV Thomas

A CAG report presented in the budget session of Parliament had pointed out irregulairities in a loan granted to Purti Group, of which Gadkari was once a board member.

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The Opposition Congress had repeatedly disrupted proceedings in the Rajya Sabha to demand the ouster of Gadkari, a former president of the BJP.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) may look into allegations against Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari about the misuse of a government loan by an energy company linked to him, but only if Parliament refers the matter to it, PAC Chairman KV Thomas said on Tuesday.

A CAG report presented in the recently-concluded budget session of Parliament had pointed out irregulairities in a loan granted to Nagpur-based Purti Group, of which Gadkari was once a board member.

Thomas, a senior leader of the Congress, said he was open to looking into the charges, but the PAC could not take suo motu cognizance of the CAG report.

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The CAG report had said that Purti Sakhar Karkhana Ltd, an energy company, was sanctioned a loan of Rs 84.12 crore by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) in violation of the government organisation’s guidelines.

“IREDA could recover only Rs 71.35 crore out of the Rs 84.12 crore recoverable from the borrower, resulting in a sacrifice of Rs 12.77 crore,” the report had said.

The Opposition Congress had repeatedly disrupted proceedings in the Rajya Sabha to demand the ouster of Gadkari, a former president of the BJP. The minister had, however, rejected allegations of any wrong-doing and offered to resign as a minister as well as a parliamentarian if the allegations levelled against him were proved.

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