Reports linking me with Robert's land deal politically motivated: Priyanka

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has dubbed as “politically motivated” reports linking her land deals with that of her husband Robert Vadra's company that were under the scanner of a Haryana government ordered investigation.

In a statement late Thursday night, Priyanka said her finances had nothing to do with those of her husband or his company Skylight Hospitality which is under Haryana government's scanner over its land deals with realty major DLF.

According to reports in a section of the media, the Haryana government-appointed Dhingra Commission had found that Robert Vadra allegedly made “unlawful profits” to the tune of Rs 50.5 crore through a land deal in Haryana in 2008 without spending a single paisa.

According to the report, the Commission had also looked into the property bought by Priyanka in 2006 and sold four years later at more than five times the cost.

The buzz in Congress circles is that Priyanka may make her political debut by contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli, currently represented by her mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

In a statement, Priyanka admitted to buying five acres of agricultural land in Amipur village in Faridabad district of Haryana at circle rate of Rs three lakh per acre and reselling it to the original vendor in 2010 at the prevailing market rate of Rs 16 lakh per acre.

“The source of funds for the aforesaid purchase was rental income of Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from property inherited by her from her grandmother Smt Indira Gandhi,” she said in a statement on Thursday night.

“The source of funds for this or any other property acquired by Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has no relationship whatsoever with Shri Robert Vadra’s finances and/or Skylight Hospitality and no relationship whatsoever with DLF,” the statement added.

Priyanka said the land was resold to the original vendor as per the “right of first refusal” provision. She said the news report appeared to be based on “certain questionable documents and represent a deliberate, politically motivated and malicious campaign to besmirch and destroy her reputation.”

“They will be entirely false, utterly baseless and defamatory,” Priyanka said.