Sonia son-in-law now the target
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, Oct 5, 2012: In this photograph taken on November 29, 2008, Priyanka Gandhi (h) daughter of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra (R) wait to cast their vote during polling for Delhi state assembly elections in New Delhi. Continuing with their attack on the ruling establishment, anti-graft campaigners Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan on Friday accused Robert Vadra, son-in-law of UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi, of increasing his wealth from a scanty Rs 50 lakh to Rs 300 crore with the help of real estate giant DLF.
“The DLF in return, received favours from the Congress ruled states of Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan,” the anti-graft activists alleged at a crowded press conference.
An agitated Congress leadership sprang into action and leaders after leaders dismissed it as a “political conspiracy”, while the BJP demanded probe.
“He (Vadra) registered five companies owned exclusively by him and his mother in 2007-2008 with just Rs 50 lakh. These companies together had no income from any legitimate business activity, but received interest free loans of over Rs 65 crore from DLF. With this money, he purchased properties of DLF worth well over Rs 300 crore at the price far below the market value during 2007-2010,” alleged Bhushan.
The activists produced audit reports of the companies submitted to the Registrar of Companies.
“Thus, seven flats in Magnolia apartments in DLF Gurgaon were purchased for a total of Rs 5.2 crore when the market price of each flat at the time of acquisition was over Rs 5 crore and today its price is between Rs 10 and 15 crore per flat. Similarly, a 10,000-sqft apartment in DLF Aralias (Gurgaon) was purchased for Rs 89 lakh. Its market price at the time of purchase in 2010 was Rs 20 crore and today is more than Rs 30 crore.
“Also, a stake of 50 per cent share in DLF-owned hotel in Saket (DLF Hilton Garden Inn) were purchased for Rs 32 crore. Its market value was over Rs 150 crore,” said Bhushan.
“Why did DLF Ltd give him interest free loans? Why did the real estate giant sell him properties at throwaway price?” asked Prashant Bhushan.
“DLF has been given 350 acres of land by Haryana govt for the development of Magnolia project in Gurgaon where Vadra was allocated 7 apartments and has been given various other properties and benefits by the Congress governments in Haryana and Delhi,” he alleged.
“Prima facie the facts show commission of offences under the prevention of corruption act as well offences under the Income Tax Act. Why are these ostensible offenses not being investigated?” asked Kejriwal.
Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid termed the allegations as a “political conspiracy” against the Congress leadership and said that “we know how to give an answer to such allegations and we will give an answer”.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said that such a press conference “on the eve of election in Gujarat and Himachal only proves that they are nothing else but B Team of BJP”.
BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad, told reporters that it is disturbing because the “recipient of benefits is son-in-law of most important family of the country”. He asked: “What is the business of Robert Vadra? How has he made phenomenal rise in three years? How many companies he owns?”
In a statement, the Delhi government said it is “not in the business of allotting land to private entities” and described the allegations as “mischievous and misleading”.
Courtesy : Deccan Herald