Nitin Gadkari was born on 27 May 1957 in Nagpur, India. During his teens, he worked for the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and the student union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He completed M.Com. and L.L.B. from the University of Nagpur. Career: He worked for the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and the student union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. Positions Held: Ex-Minister, Govt of Maharashtra chairman, Purti Group of Companies President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra State Ex-Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Council Former Minister for Public Works Department, Maharashtra State Member of Legislative Council, Maharashtra State Elected to the Maharashtra Govt. Legislative Council in 1989 from graduates constituency, Nagpur Region. Re-elected in the year 1990. Re-elected in the year 1996 and elected unopposed in 2002. Inducted in the Maharashtra State Government Cabinet as the Minister for Public Works on 27 May 1995. Ex-Member of the High Power Committee for Privatisation, Government of Maharashtra. Ex-Chairman, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, India. Ex-Guardian Minister for Nagpur District, Govt. of Maharashtra. Ex-Chairman, Mining policy Implementation Committee, Govt. of Maharashtra. Ex-Chairman, Metropolis Beautification Committee, Govt. of Maharashtra. Ex-Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Chairman National Rural Road Development Committee Chairman, Review Committee of CPWD, Govt. of India. State President of Bhartiya Janata Party, Maharashtra. National President of BJP, India. Controversies: In 2010, when the Purti group had incurred losses of Rs. 640 million, the firm IRB, which had obtained hefty road contracts under Gadkari's term as PWD minister, loaned the group Rs. 1.64 billion, which was higher than Purthi's turnover of Rs. 1.45 billion. When questioned on Marathi channel IBN-Lokmat, about why he did not avail a loan from banks, Gadkari explained that the balance sheets of the company were not in a suitable state, so he had requested his friend Dattatray to help him out. Also, Gadkari's son Nikhil was allegedly a director with IRB at the time. Gadkari argued that there was nothing wrong in having contractors invest in one's firms, but opposition leaders have argued that all this suggests a quid pro quo for political favours granted by Gadkari. The news of these allegations broke a few months before Gadkari was to seek re-election as president of the BJP. At the time, Gadkari was to address several rallies for the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, 2012. India Today reported that BJP leader Shanta Kumar had suggested that Gadkari's presence was "affecting BJP's anti-corruption campaign."Subsequently, Gadkari cancelled his scheduled rallies at Bilaspur and Solan on 30 October. Most talked moment/activity: In early 2013, in the elections for BJP president, for which Gadkari was "close to clinching a second innings" his chances unravelled with several senior leaders suggesting that the I-T indictment of the Purti groups investments had damaged his image, and Gadkari was not re-elected. Gadkari told the Times of India that he was stepping down until the inquiry proved him innocent. Media controversy: Eventually, in May 2013, the Income Tax department assessed that Gadkari's firms had evaded Rs. 70 million via such benami investments and other practices. On April 30. 2014, then Congress Union Minister Manish Tewari apologised to Nitin Gadkari when he was dragged into a defamation suit by the latter. This apology was based on the judicial commission mention that Gadkari had played no role or had no concern with the scam. On May 13, 2014 the IT department of Maharashtra cleared Nitin Gadkari's name and gave him a clean chit saying there is no enquiry/investigation presently pending. Charges 1 charges related to criminal intimidation (IPC Section-506) 2 charges related to Being a member of an unlawful assembly (IPC Section-143) 1 charges related to Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions (IPC Section-186) 1 charges related to house-trespass (IPC Section-448) 1 charges related to Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant (IPC Section-188) 1 charges related to wrongful restraint (IPC Section-341)