A chartered accountant is the only link between companies owned by the families of water resources minister Sunil Tatkare andShiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray. Chartered accountant Girish Amonkar is a director in some of the companies owned by Tatkare's son Aniket. However, he is also director in firms in which Uddhav's brother-in-law Shridhar Patankar has a stake.

"There are no business links between theTatkares and Thackerays," said a source, who is probing the assets of Tatkare's family. A source close to Uddhav Thackeray told TOI on Friday, "These are mischievous reports. Thackeray's companies have no business connections with Tatkare's firms. We have nothing to hide."

The controversy started when BJP leader Kirit Somaiya released a list of companies associated with Tatkare's family. Among the firms listed by Somaiya were Kamod Traders Pvt Ltd and Padminish Exim Private Ltd. Uddhav's wife Rashmi and son Aditya are directors in these companies. Two other firms that Somaiya listed were Venue Infra-projects Prt Ltd and Siddhesh Realty Pvt Ltd, in which Rashmi's brother Shridhar Patankar is a director, along with Amonkar.

Sources said Amonkar is a director in junior Tatkare's firms, mainly Geetamrut Agro, Multiventure Estate and Carnation Agro Estate Pvt Ltd.

TOI had earlier reported about Aniket Tatkare's business empire; he has stakes in real estate,hotels, financial services and dairy farms. Several of the private limited companies owned by him issued shares to individuals and small firms at exorbitant premiums (in one case, 49 times the face value) and bought them back after some time at rock-bottom prices. A Thane-based activist has filed a piece of public interest litigation in the Bombay high court, urging it to institute an inquiry against the Tatkare family's assets.

On Friday, Somaiya filed a complaint with the economic offence wing of Mumbai police against Tatkare's companies. One of them is Multiventure Agro & Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, which has a shareholding pattern where 45% of the shares are owned by Yash V Jewels, a company banned by SEBI from buying or dealing in any securities. (PTI)