DLF-Vadra deal: Signs of huge favours from Haryana government

Mangalore Today/ NDTV

New Delhi, Oct 16:  A senior Haryana IAS officer in the state’s land registration office has been transferred just days after he ordered an inquiry into alleged irregularities in land deals linked to Robert Vadra and cancelled one of them. Specfically, in February 2008, Mr Vadra had bought land in Manesar for Rs. 7.5 crore. The IAS officer Ashok Khemka ordered the probe into this deal after allegations surfaced that rules were bent by Haryana government.

 

Let’s take a look at the signs that suggest the Haryana government may have extended huge favours to Mr Vadra:


    1) The land Mr Vadra had bought in Manesar, next to Gurgaon, was mutated (transferred) to his name in one day after the deal was closed. Mutation normally takes 3-6 months and is essential to complete the the transfer of ownership process in Haryana. Mr Khemka cancelled this mutation, saying it was signed off by an official who was not authorised to do so.

    2) In March 2008, less than a month after the land was bought, Mr Vadra got licence for housing project on Manesar land. Within 65 days, DLF bought the land from Mr Vadra, paying him Rs. 58 crore, an escalation of eight times.

    3) To allegedly help Mr Vadra avoid paying capital gains tax, the payments from DLF were staggered over four years.

    4) In January 2011, Haryana government renewed licence for the land in the name of Mr Vadra’s company, Sky Light Hospitality, even though he had sold it to DLF. 

    5) In October 2012, the land registered in DLF’s name against the rules, even though Mr Vadra and the real estate giant had entered the deal over the land 65 days after it was bought in 2008.