I-T officials launch probe into Vadra deals

Officials from Income Tax and Central Excise departments started investigating the controversial land deals made by companies owned by Robert Vadra, son in law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

I-T officials scanned the land documents at sub registrar’s office in Bikaner district while excise officials raided a few local companies and their owners who allegedly have close ties with Gandhi family and Vadra.

Officials of local administration said I-T inspector Amit Kumar from New Delhi was in Bikaner and he scanned all records of lands purchased and sold by companies owned by Vadra.

Amit Kumar spent the entire day in sub registrar’s office of Kolayat town of Bikaner.  Sources in administration said Amit Kumar showed keen interest in the land transitions done by Skylight Hospitality Private Limited and Skylight Reality Private Limited. 

Meanwhile, excise officials raided Siwal Infra Private Limited, a local company, in Bikaner district. Sources said owner of Siwal Infra Private Ltd has been project contractor in a few companies owned by Vadra. The company has undertaken several projects in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Jaipur.

In 2009 and 2010 about five to 85 hectares of land was allegedly purchased by Vadra companies at 12 places in Gajner and Golri villages of Kolyat Tehsil of Bikaner district of Rajasthan.

Vadra companies are also in the thick of controversy for purchasing and selling the land initially allotted in the name of those displaced from Mahajan field firing range of Indian Army.