Congress alleges impropriety, seeks Piyush Goyal's ouster

 New Delhi, April 4: The Congress on Wednesday alleged “impropriety” and “conflict of interest” on the part of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, saying a company associated with him in the past was given a “haircut” loan waiver of 65 per cent on the outstanding loan amount of over Rs 650 crore. The party sought his removal from the Union Cabinet and a judicial investigation by a Supreme Court judge into the case.

Talking to the media, Congress leader Ghulam bi Azad said: “A damning tale of conflict of interest, sweetened deals, gross impropriety and bank loan defaults by Shirdi Industries Ltd with past and present affiliation to Piyush Goyal and his family is out in open.” Azad, who was accompanied by party leader M. Veerapa Moily and party spokesperson Pawan Khera, said Goyal was chairman and full-time director of Shirdi Industries Ltd from April 25, 2008 to July 1, 2010. The company had worked out a loan of Rs 258.62 crore from a consortium of banks headed by the Union Bank of India.
The Congress leader said that Shirdi Industries was declared sick on June 8, 2015, almost a year after the Modi government came to power. Azad said Goyal was also director of this company from September 15, 2005 to July 22, 2013. He said that Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amending Act, 2017 prohibits a promoter of sick company from submitting bids before the tiol Company Law Tribul (NCLT).
The Congress leader alleged that Rakesh Agarwal of Shridi Industries was “proximate” to Goyal as he was director in another company along with the brother of Union Minister. He said Piyush Goyal and his wife were directors in another company and were succeeded by the sons of Agarwal and Bansal. Raising questions, the Congress leaders asked if it was “not a clear-cut case of conflict of interest and impropriety” on the part of Goyal.(IANS)

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