Justice Dhingra report finds irregularities in Robert Vadra's land deals

A judicial inquiry into the controversial land deals in Haryana allegedly involving Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra has found irregularities in the deals.

Justice Dhingra who looked into the land deals in Gurgaon, also involving officials of Haryana government during the tenure of the then chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today submitted its report to the state government.

Justice S N Dhingra, a former judge of the Delhi high court, presented a 182-page report to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar after a probe that extended to 15 months in three extensions.

While refusing to give details of the contents of the report, Justice Dhingra indicated that he clearly found irregularities in the grant of land licences in the area.

The land deals had become a major issue in 2014 during the Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls in Haryana.

"Had there been no irregularity, I would have given one sentence report mentioning there is no irregularity. My report has 182 pages. Without it, I did not have any reason to write 182 pages," Justice Dhingra told newsmen.

Asked about the companies involved in the irregularities, he said, "I do not know about which particular company you (media) are talking. My mandate was to inquire about irregularity in grant of licences."

The Manohar Khattar government had set up the one-man commission on 14 May 2015 to probe issues concerning the grant of licences for developing commercial colonies by the Haryana's Department of Town and Country Planning to some entities in Sector 83, Gurgaon, including mutation of land deal between Robert Vadra-owned firm Skylight Hospitality and realty major DLF.

The Rs 58-crore deal related to 3.5 acre land in Gurgaon's Shikohpur village which was sold by Vadra to DLF.

The Commission was to probe transfer or disposal of land, allegations of private enrichment, ineligibility of beneficiaries under the rules, and other connected matters, bringing the Vadra land deal under the scanner.

Justice Dhingra said that it is for the government to act on the report, including making it public after laying it in the state assembly.

"I cannot disclose the contents of the report. It is the property of the state government, which is to decide the timing of making public the report," he added.

Asked about the role of government official and private persons, Justice Dhingra said, "I have probed irregularity in grant of licenses and the manner in which these irregularities were committed and the persons who were benefitted from it.

"Rest, indictment, is for the state to proceed against whatever it considers against whom it is to proceed and against whom it is not to proceed. That is the state's prerogative.

"I have named each and every person who is responsible whether private or government. Any person who was involved in irregularity has been mentioned (in the report) and role has also been mentioned. Beyond that I would not tell you who were they and what was the role," he further said.