The one-man commission headed by Justice SN Dhingra, probing the controversial land deals involving Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra in Haryana, has pointed out irregularities in grant of licences and land allotment in its report submitted to the State Government on Wednesday. Justice Dhingra, a former judge of the Delhi High Court, submitted a 182-page report to the Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar here after the commission’s term ended on Wednesday.
Government sources indicated that the report has indicted the office of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for acting “contrary to the law” for distributing land licences during Congress’ regime in the State. Official sources said that the report has also pointed out irregularities in grant of licences and land allotment in prime areas to individuals and companies, including Robert Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality Pvt ltd.
“I wouldn’t have submitted a 182-page report if there was no irregularity,” said Dhingra when asked if he found any irregularities in distribution of licences during his enquiry.
Justice Dhingra in his report has also named several bureaucrats for not following the rules and regulations and distributing land licences in an ad hoc manner during the Congress regime, said sources. The one-man panel was set up by the Manohar lal Khattar Government in May 2015 to probe issues pertaining to grant of development licences to companies, including Sky light Hospitality owned by Robert Vadra in Gurgaon’s Sector 83.
Since the scope of enquiry was later widened from one sector to more (78 to 86), the term of the commission was extended by another six months from December 8, 2015, to June 7, 2016. It was in June again that the commission sought another extension of three weeks up to August 30.
After submitting his report, Justice Dhingra while talking to the mediapersons said, “My 182-page report is in two parts. One part includes findings and other includes evidence of irregularities. I have also submitted documents received by me in June and have recommended further investigation into it.”
On being asked about people indicted by him in the report, Justice Dhingra refused to divulge the details of the report saying that it is up to the Government to make it public or act on the report now. However, he accepted that both Government officials and private individuals have been named in the report.
“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 my report and role has also been mentioned,” said Justice Dhingra.
When asked why he did not call IAS officer Ashok Khemka for deposition, Justice Dhingra said that it was not necessary. It was IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who had cancelled the mutation of the land owned by Vadra. Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality Pvt ltd had allegedly made huge profit on the sale of a plot of land to DlF after he had obtained the change of land use for the same. Skylight Hospitality, had sold a prime 3.5 acre piece of land in Gurgaon district to DlF in 2008 for Rs58 crore.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had also pointed out that Vadra’s firm, Skylight Hospitality, had not submitted documents on financial adequacy. Despite that, the firm was granted a licence. About the findings of CAG, Justice Dhingra said that CAG findings were for small aspect and limited but I have submitted a detailed report on all aspects.
On the objections raised over constitution of the commission by the Congress and alleging that the Commission is “contrary to established rules and norms”, Justice Dhingra said that anybody can challenge the decision. The Dhingra Commission examined more than 200 files related to the grant of commercial licenses, besides examining several government officials.
After receiving the report, Chief Minister Manohar lal said that the report is voluminous. He said State Government will examine it and would act accordingly.