While the war of words, allegations and counter-allegations raged for the second consecutive day on Friday between the BJP and the Congress over Justice SN Dhingra Commission probe into Robert Vadra land deals, the retired judge brushed aside the Congress’ charge that he took “favours” from the Haryana Government saying he was ready to take more such favours if it benefits villages of the State.
But troubled mounted on Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra as the Enforcement Directorate on Friday issued a fresh notice to a firm linked to him in connection with a land scam in Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Agency sources said the notice was issued to Skylight Hospitality asking it to explain the controversial land deals in Rajasthan and provide certain financial statements to the investigating officer of the case.
The Congress has questioned the fairness of Justice Dhingra’s enquiry, alleging that the Haryana Government built a road to make a school operated by his charitable trust more accessible.
Denying the allegations, Justice Dhingra said, “If this is a favour, I would like this favour for all villages of Haryana.”
“Anybody is free to make allegations,” he told a news channel. He clarified, “I don’t have a school. I am the chairman of Justice Gopal Singh Public Charitable Trust. This trust is running two dispensaries, one in Gurgaon and other in Delhi.”
“I had requested Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner that why he does not use the funds for the village roads so that people could commute at ease. This was agreed upon and it was the favour that had been done to me. If this is an allegation, I accept it. If this is a favour, I would like to have 20 such favours in all villages of Haryana,” added Dhingra.
About the extension sought by him to submit his commission’s report, Dhingra said, “Sometimes, some pieces of information are quite important. You can’t ignore them.”
Asked if Robert Vadra’s company Skylight Hospitality’s name figured in the report, Dhingra said: “They are not pertaining directly to any of the companies. It is benami transactions.”
“I think if you wait for the report, you will come to know as to what the commission has done. I am not chasing Vadra, you people are chasing him. I have mentioned names of all those persons who have benefited,” he said.
On Friday, a BJP parliamentarian Kirit Somaiya wrote to Justice Dhinga and claimed to have provided more documents to investigate the alleged involvement of Robert Vadra’s company Skylight Hospitality. Somaiya has accused Vadra of making Rs 58 crore against a capital investment of Rs one lakh.
Meanwhile, intensifying its attack on the ruling BJP in Haryana, the Congress on Friday alleged that the one-man Commission of enquiry has become a political tool for malicious witch-hunt by the Haryana Government while the BJP has hit back saying that the Opposition is restless due to the outcomes of the enquiry.
Slamming the Opposition, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar told the mediapersons on Friday that the Congress reaction even before the Dhingra Commission has submitted its report on the land deals during the earlier Congress rule makes one “suspect that something is not right”.
Defending his Government’s decision to constitute the commission, the Chief Minister said, “The commission was constituted one year ago as complaints were received regarding the grant of licences. At that time, the Congress had no issues. Even earlier also, the panel’s tenure was extended and the approval notified after 10 days. Even then, no one raised any issue.”
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, however, alleged that Justice Dhingra, who has virtually taken benefit from the BJP Government and took plot for his own purpose from an individual, is not capable and apt to carry out the investigation in this case and should be removed.
While addressing a Press conference, Surjewala said that the commission is “unconstitutional” as it was constituted without taking approval of Council of Ministers or legislature of State of Haryana.
Even selection of Justice Dhingra was completely arbitrary as no other judge was considered and the Chief Minister autocratically hand-picked his name for the panel, he alleged.