Vadra in midst of controversy as veil lifts on land deals

New Delhi: The tabling of an auditor’s report that said the Congress granted “undue favours” to its chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra when it was in power in Haryana, has reignited speculation about possible action by the state’s new BJP government.
 
A CD of the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) was handed over on the final day of the state assembly session on Wednesday.
 
“We will look into the matter and take appropriate action,” said Chief Minister ML Khattar.
 
The report prepared in 2013 doesn’t name Mr Vadra but says his company, Skylight Hospitality, sold 3.5 acres of land in Gurgaon near Delhi to realty giant DLF for 58 crores in 2008.
 
The land sale, which allegedly brought windfall gains for Mr Vadra’s company, was cancelled by IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who called it illegal. He was transferred within days.
 
“My action in VADRA-DLF land-license deal vindicated in CAG report, but continue to suffer the stigma of charge sheet,” Mr Khemka tweeted on Wednesday.
 
In 2013, the Congress government of Bhupinder Singh Hooda had rejected Mr Khemka’s allegations and charge-sheeted him for “causing damage to Robert Vadra’s reputation” and “illegally” cancelling the deal.

The auditor’s report has slammed the Hooda government for favouring builders including Skylight. It says the Town and Country Planning Department ” neither at the time of granting in-principle approval nor at the time of formal approval for transfer of licenses ensured that net profit beyond 15 % of the total cost accrues to public exchequer. This enabled the developers to earn huge profits merely by selling the land while the government had to forego sizeable amount.”

The BJP, which took power last year, had promised action in the case.
 
Sources say the report’s tabling at a time the Congress is campaigning aggressively against the Centre’s land bill is significant.

“There is no indictment of Robert Vadra or any company,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The Chief Minister asserted, “We will not work in pursuit of any vengeance while forgetting our work.”