Decks have been cleared for Priyanka Gandhi to construct a bungalow in the sylvan surroundings of this hill station which could serve as a summer holiday retreat for the Gandhis.

The new BJP government which took over the reins of the state two months ago has now clarified that, it did not intend to seek an inquiry into the purchase of about 1.5 acres of land by Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra near Shimla last year. The family had reportedly paid Rs 45 lakh for the land purchased from a local family.

Earlier, media reports had speculated that the BJP regime had ordered probe into the land purchase by the Vadras under the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act. This Act  prohibits non-Himachalis from purchasing land in the state.

Any land purchase by non-Himachalis to build a house in the state has to be ratified by the state cabinet. The previous Congress government headed by Virbhadra singh had granted the sanction within 15 days after Priyanka and Robert put up an application to the government seeking to buy this piece of land.

Sources close to CM P K Dhumal have clarified that the government had ordered a probe into several land deals done by the previous Congress government by flouting the Act and did not order any specific probe into the land purchased by Priyanka and her husband.

The government’s clarification has meant that there were no legal hurdles for Priyanka to build a proposed two-storey bungalow at the site. Former revenue minister Sat Pal Mahajan who had overseen the purchase said: “We had followed the law in granting sanctions and there was no illegality of any sorts involved in the decision.”
He said it was a matter of pride that Priyanka would be having a house in Himachal.

The site purchased by Priyanka is located near the high-security area of Chharabara about 13 km from Shimla just adjoining the summer resort of the President of India, The Retreat.