July 04, 2026 11:47 am (IST)
Follow us:
Gadkari denies Essar favour
Mumbai, Feb 27(IBNS) Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday denied having done anything wrong by accepting the hospitality of the Essar , saying he only wanted to experience the yacht of the multinational conglomerate and could not have reached it by swimming.
Allegations were raised in a section of media that select band of politicians, bureaucrats and journalists were on the list of favours being extended by Essar.
"Me or my family have never traveled using corporate money. Till date I have never taken any corporate money, ticket or sponsorship," he told a press conference.
Citing leaked emails, media reports said Gadkari went on a private cruise on the Essar luxury Raft Sunrays while vacationing in Europe with his family in July 7-9 2013.
The emails allegedly indicated that the yacht stay in the French Riviera was arranged at Gadkari's request.
Gadkari told NDTV: "Two years ago we had gone to Norway. When Essar found out they told me they had a yacht off the coast of France and invited me to see it. I got off at Frankfurt, booked my own tickets and hotel and went there. I stayed there for two nights and left on the third day."
In a statement, the Essar group said the article was based on information that was "stolen or fabricated."
"We are a law abiding company and responsible corporate citizen and have not indulged any wrong doing," the company said adding that it has initiated strong action against those suspected in the theft of its documents.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Hospital without a building? Indore's 'ghost hospital' has staff, transfers but no patients
Fri, Jul 03 2026
From missing person to murder: Agra woman held after husband's body found buried at home
Fri, Jul 03 2026
TMC power struggle deepens as rebels take over party headquarters, Mamata camp locked out
Fri, Jul 03 2026
India stands firm on Indus Waters Treaty, dismisses Pakistan's aggressive posturing
Fri, Jul 03 2026
Public education in West Bengal is a devastated area which needs fundamental rebuilding: Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta
Fri, Jul 03 2026
'Switch sides, there's a washing machine': Bombay HC judge's 'horse-trading' remark on Maharashtra politics goes viral
Fri, Jul 03 2026