Deshpande was to form new company, says Pawar

New Delhi:

Despite the growing controversy around the Pune IPL bid after revelations that City Corporation had earlier authorised Anirudh Deshpande to bid on behalf of the company, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar continues to deny any links with the bidding process.

Mr Pawar and his family own 16 per cent stake in City Corp, but speaking to journalists in Baramati on Sunday, Pawar said the board revised its decision to go ahead with the bid in March.

Defending himself, Pawar told NDTV that the January resolution to let Anirudh Deshpande - Managing Director of Pune based construction firm City Corp - bid for firm was to enable him get IPL bid.

He also said that Deshpande gave company documents with bid as per IPL rules. "Deshpande was clear if he won bid, it would be run with new entity," said Pawar.

The NCP chief, who has been under severe attack from the Opposition lead by BJP for his links to IPL bidding, said, "I have shares in 2 firms that have stake in City Corp but not involved in decisions."