BJP demands court-monitored CBI probe into Vadra`s land deals

The BJP demanded a court-monitored CBI inquiry into the alleged land deals of Robert Vadra.

New Delhi: The BJP Tuesday demanded a court-monitored CBI inquiry into the alleged land deals of Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, claiming that the Rajasthan government had given him "red-carpet treatment" and bent rules to favour companies linked to him. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman Prakash Javadekar told reporters at a press conference here that land deals of Vadra were "much beyond business of private individual".

"It resulted in windfall to a private person. This is P4 - public policy for private people," he said. Javadekar alleged the Haryana government had also extended undue favours to Vadra. Both states are ruled by the Congress. The BJP leader alleged that unsecured loans were given to firms linked to Vadra for purchase of land and then parts of the same land were then brought back at hefty rates. "We demand court-monitored CBI probe of all land deals of Robert Vadra," he said, also taking a dig at Vadra by referring to him as "jijaji (brother-in-law)" (of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi). "CWG, 2G and now jijaji," Javadekar said referring to opposition`s allegations of scams during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. BJP MP from Bikaner Arjun Ram Meghwal, who was present at the press conference, said the central government had approved 722 companies for solar power production and the state government was supposed to create land bank in Bikaner and some other areas of Rajasthan. The land, he said, was supposed to be provided free or at a nominal price for solar power and alleged Vadra gave power of attorney to a man called Mahesh Nagar to start purchasing land and companies were formed for the purpose. He said large purchases of land were made without attracting any attention either from the income tax authorities or the enforcement directorate. "The central government is also involved," the BJP MP alleged. Meghwal said most land was purchased near power stations. "Companies who seek land are told by the state authorities that no land is available. They have to, per force, purchase land from companies linked to Robert Vadra," Meghwal alleged. He claimed that land was being sold at rates several times higher than those at which it was purchased. Meghwal also alleged that amendments to land ceiling act were made by the state government to benefit Vadra. "What was source of (Vadra`s) money, " he said and added that land purchased from farmers cannot be traded. Another party MP from Rajasthan VP Singh Badnore said Vadra got red-carpet treatment from the state government. "Mutations were done in a day. All this to benefit the son-in-law. It is a sequel to Haryana land scam," he alleged. PTI