Probe picks holes in 22 Mumbai firms with Purti links

The income tax (I-T) department has found that the registered addresses of 22 companies in Mumbai linked to BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s Purti Group of Industries are bogus. Manish Pachouly reports.

The income tax (I-T) department has found that the registered addresses of 22 companies in Mumbai linked to BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s Purti Group of Industries are bogus.

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The investigation wing of the I-T department concluded this during Tuesday’s inquiry conducted in the city and neighbouring areas.

The addresses of these companies are shown in Vidyavihar, Bhandup and Thane. I-T officials found that addresses of some companies shown in Andheri and Fort were changed immediately after the controversy erupted.

Officials also discovered that no activities related to the companies were being carried out at the addresses. Sources said some directors of these companies included a driver, accountant, astrologer and jewellery designer. “They had allowed use of their addresses for Rs1,000 to Rs2,000 a month,” said an I-T official.

While recording statements of the ‘directors’, the officials found that no investment had been made by these companies in Purti group.