New Delhi, (The Telegraph): The Congress today alleged that minister Nitin Gadkari flouted norms to award a Rs 10,050-crore contract to a company with close links to him and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim of zero tolerance on corruption.

"It is a clear-cut case of crony capitalism and nepotism as the contract was awarded to a single bidder in violation of CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) guidelines. If the Prime Minister means his words na khaoonga, na khane doonga (I will not indulge in corruption, nor let anyone else do it), he should sack Gadkari," Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said at a news conference.

Digvijaya said IRB Infrastructure Developers was given the deal to build the Zojila Pass tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir. "This is the same Mumbai developer which got most of the contracts in Maharashtra when Gadkari was state PWD minister. The close ties of IRB founder Dattatray Mhaiskar with Gadkari are undeniable. They had even invested in Gadkari's Purti group of companies."

Gadkari, the Union minister of road transport and highways, rejected the charges and asserted that due process was followed in the deal.

Digvijaya lodged a complaint with the CVC today and said he would write to the Prime Minister seeking a probe. He said he had submitted documents to the CVC, including newspaper clippings on alleged links between the Gadkaris and the Mhaiskars and official documents he claimed showed Gadkari's son Nikhil as director and shareholder of an IRB subsidiary, Ideal Energy Projects.

Gadkari denied links with IRB. "Nothing is done in my department without following the due process of e-tenders. I don't favour anyone while giving out tenders. My son is not a director in that company. I am not a shareholder, neither do I have any connections."

But Digvijaya alleged many other bidders were forced out, leaving only one in the final round as the minister had decided to favour the firm despite its inexperience in building high-altitude tunnels.

Zojila, one of the highest mountain passes in India, is located at 11,000ft between Srinagar and Leh. The 14km tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between the Valley and Ladakh. Digvijaya said a contract of Rs 10,050 crore being given to a single bidder was unheard of under any previous government.

Photo credit: The Telegraph