4 FIRS against Robert Vadra's firm in Rajasthan land deals
The CBI has taken over an investigation into fraudulent land deals in Bikaner, from the Rajasthan government, and re-registered 18 FIRs including four against Sky Light Hospitality, a firm allegedly linked with Robert Vadra. In 2010, Sky Light allegedly bought 275 out of a total of 1,400 bighas of land sold to people under fake names, and then re-sold them in 2012.
Robert Vadra's land deals in question
In 2012, Arvind Kejriwal raised allegations about illegal land deals made by Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with realty giant DLF. Vadra reportedly made profits of Rs. 50.5cr from a 2008 land-deal in Haryana. His company Skylight Hospitality bought the land from Onkareshwar Properties, allegedly gotten the land-use licences changed, and then sold it to DLF at a much higher price.
Dhingra committee formed to probe deals
Haryana government set up the Justice Dhingra Commission in 2015, to look into grant of licences for change in land use in four Gurgaon villages, including one granted to Skylight. After inquiring into 20 properties purchased by Vadra, and over 250 land deals made by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government, it submitted its 182-page report in August'16. The report was then sent to the SC.
Priyanka Gandhi distances herself from controversy
Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi stated her properties have nothing to do with the deals of husband Vadra. The denial came after a media house questioned Vadra's allegedly unwarranted profits. The deal involved a five-acre plot in Faridabad, which Priyanka bought in 2006 for Rs. 15L, allegedly with Vadra's money. She said it happened six years before an "illegal" deal involving Skylight.
Vadra land deal: Congress warns against publication of Dhingra report
After major embarrassment over Robert Vadra's allegedly illegal land deals, Congress cited publicly two court orders restraining publication of the Dhingra panel's findings, saying it would be "contempt". Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also denied that Vadra or former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda had received any notice to record their testimonies. One couldn't be punished without recording his defence, Singhvi added.
'Robert Vadra was allocated land because of his VIP status'
In yet another embarrassment for Congress party, Republic TV exposed that the Justice Dhingra report clearly states that Vadra was allocated the land only because he is the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi. The report further mentions that Vadra's company Skylight Hospitality was preferred over a common citizen Nirmala Devi, who wanted to set up a middle school on the land.
Nirmala Devi's proposal shot down without any valid reason
In comparison to Robert Vadra, Nirmala Devi had submitted the complete documentation for her proposal. Moreover, she had more paid-up capital, an assurance by a bank to support the project but even then her proposal was shot down.
