Dhingra Commission submits report on Robert Vadra, other land deals

Chandigarh: The one-man Justice SN Dhingra Commission of Inquiry set up by the Haryana government to probe controversial land deals in Gurgaon, including those of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, on Wednesday submitted its report to the BJP-led state government.

The term of the commission, which was extended on June 30 for eight weeks by the Haryana government amid controversy over its legal validity, ends today.

The commission, set up by the Bharatiya Janata Party government in May last year, was asked to probe controversial land deals in Haryana, including the land deals of Vadra and his firms.

The commission was asked to probe the grant of licenses to Vadra's company and other firms for developing commercial properties in Gurgaon's Sector 83 and some other prime areas.

It was mandated to probe their subsequent transfer or disposal, allegations of private enrichment, ineligibility of beneficiaries under the rules, and other connected matters.

Vadra had termed the inquiry commission as a "political witch-hunt" launched against him by the BJP government in Haryana.

Vadra and former Haryana chief minister as well as senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who had been summoned by the commission, had refused to join the probe.

The scope of the Dhingra commission was expanded in August last year and it was asked to probe grant of all licenses to colonisers and individuals in four villages of Gurgaon by the previous Congress government in Haryana.

Vadra and others were allegedly granted favours by Hooda-led state government in issuing licenses to develop commercial properties in Gurgaon's Sector 83.

Dhingra is a retired judge of the Delhi High Court.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had pointed out that Vadra's firm, Skylight Hospitality, had not submitted documents on financial adequacy. Despite that, the firm was granted a licence.

Earlier, Hooda had objected to setting up of the commission saying it was held "contrary to established rules and norms, without due cabinet approval and prompted by malice and political considerations".

He had urged Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki "to revoke the Constitution of the Commission of Enquiry".

(With IANS inputs)