No evidence in land fraud case against Vadra after DLF donated Rs 170cr to BJP

A case filed against businessman Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, on charges of fraud and corruption by the Haryana government back in 2012 in connection with land deals in Gurugram, saw the state government stating in 2023 that there was no evidence in the case, as per their submission to the High Court.

The development in the case, with the Haryana government led by the BJP informing the Punjab and Haryana High Court about the lack of evidence in the filed case, allegedly occurred after Vadra-owned DLF Group, a real estate firm, reportedly donated Rs 170 crore to the BJP between October 2019 and November 2022 through electoral bonds, according to a report by a joint project conducted by The News Minute, Newslaundry, and Scroll on electoral bonds.

Freshly released electoral bond data from the Election Commission reveals that the DLF Group contributed Rs 170 crore to the BJP between October 2019 and November 2022. These donations were facilitated through three firms: DLF Commercial Developers Limited, DLF Garden City Indore Private Limited, and DLF Luxury Homes Limited. Notably, the BJP emerged as the exclusive recipient of these bonds, with the real estate conglomerate abstaining from donations to any other political party.

These deals, which had been a focal point of the 2014 election campaign, implicated Vadra, who is the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

Vadra took to social media to claim vindication following the government's statement, but the BJP government swiftly clarified that it did not amount to a "clean chit" for either Vadra or DLF.

The intricacies of the case are deeply rooted in a complex web of land deals and political maneuvering. In 2008, Vadra's firm, Skylight Hospitality, purchased land in Gurugram for a fraction of its later value, which was subsequently sold to DLF at a considerable profit. This transaction drew scrutiny from authorities, with investigations by agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) adding layers to the legal saga.

Despite assurances from the Haryana government that the case would be further investigated by a new special investigation team (SIT), progress has been slow, drawing criticism from the High Court for its sluggish pace. Meanwhile, a parallel probe into alleged money laundering involving another infrastructure firm, Supertech Group, led to searches at DLF offices in Gurugram.

Founded by Chaudhary Raghvendra Singh in 1946, the DLF Group has focused primarily on the real estate sector, particularly in Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh – the National Capital Region. In the fiscal year 2022-’23, it recorded a turnover of Rs 6,012 crore, with a net profit of Rs 2,051 crore.

The group gained prominence in 2012 when the Haryana government canceled a land purchase it had made from a firm owned by Vadra. Notably, Vadra's firm, Skylight Hospitality, acquired 3.5 acres of land in Gurugram in 2008 for Rs 7.5 crore, later selling it to DLF for Rs 58 crore, a significant increase in value.

This transaction drew scrutiny, leading to the cancellation of ownership transfer by Ashok Khemka, the Haryana official responsible for land record inspection, in 2012, sparking a political controversy highlighted by the BJP in its 2014 election campaign.