The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has denied reports of its president Nitin Gadkari being summoned by the income tax department. According to the Press Trust of India, the income tax department has issued summons to Mr Gadkari to appear before it in connection with its investigation against him and some associated companies for alleged tax evasion."Firstly, there is no official notice has been sent as such. Secondly, Gadkarihimself have said that he is ready for any kind of investigation. This investigation is taking place with his consent. But publicising the fact that notice has been sent and this being printed daily in the newspapers via sources, something is definitely wrong in this," BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.Mr Gadkari's Purti Group has also denied the reports. In a text message to NDTV, Purti group's Public Relations Officer, Nitin Kulkarni, said, "Dear Friends, reports of IT notice to BJP President Mr Nitin Gadkari are Mischevous, False & Untrue. No such thing has happened & no question of his appearing on 21st Jan at any forum."Top sources in the department had said yesterday that Mr Gadkari has been asked for his personal appearance so that he can be confronted with the documents and probe conducted by the I-T in this regard in the last few months, according to the Press Trust of India."He had sought an adjournment for two weeks citing that he is not present in Nagpur. He has been given the extension and the new date for appearance is January 21," they said."We need to confront him with the probe that we have conducted and verify the facts," they added.

The department has been probing various firms that invested in Mr Gadkari's company Purti Power and Sugar Limited (PPSL) and the probe unit in Nagpur has sent a report in this regard to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in Delhi. Sources have told NDTV that the investigation is almost finished.Mr Gadkari had resigned from the Purti Group sometime back.