Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s close relatives have engaged in extensive real estate transactions across the state. Numerous dealings in the real estate sector highlight the often intertwined relationships politicians maintain with major property developers.
Haryana stands out as a fertile ground for real estate ventures, making it highly appealing to builders. A notable example is the emergence of Havelock Developers Pvt Ltd, founded in 2007 as a completely owned subsidiary of Unitech, a prominent builder. Havelock has secured various land parcels throughout Gurgaon, particularly in the Fazilpur and Badshahpur regions.
In an intriguing move, Havelock received unsecured loans amounting to Rs. 6.7 crore from Unitech. Just prior to the loan maturity date on March 31, 2008, ownership of Havelock transitioned to Anjali and Kunal Bhadoo, respectively the daughter and son-in-law of Haryana’s Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda; this ownership shift occurred in September.
Further intertwining their interests, the Bhadoos are linked to CHD real estate developers as well. Anjali and Kunal engaged in a joint venture to form Navyug Education Pvt Ltd, which Mr. Bhadoo later took sole ownership of.
While no definitive evidence exists to substantiate illegality, these dealings undeniably underscore a close-knit relationship between influential politicians and large corporations. Recently, the connection between real estate giant DLF and the Haryana government under Hooda has made headlines due to allegations of solid camaraderie between the two parties.
DLF faced scrutiny for purported illegal transactions involving Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law. This controversy first emerged from accusations by Arvind Kejriwal. Nonetheless, the Congress party, the Central Government, and Vadra himself have all categorically rejected these allegations. In a statement, Hooda’s son-in-law, a chartered accountant, also distanced himself from wrongdoing, asserting that all his dealings are legitimate and in complete compliance with the law, having paid all required revenues and stamp duties.
Mr. Bhadoo emphasized that his primary business focus does not revolve around real estate, characterizing this sector as secondary to his ventures in education and philanthropy. He disclosed that he procured his shareholding in Havelock from Unitech at a specified price of Rs. 1.61 crore. Furthermore, he indicated that both Unitech and Havelock plan to embark on joint projects in the near future, as articulated by Mr. Bhadoo.