Robert Vadra Given Clean Chit by PMO
On Wednesday, Robert Vadra, son-in-law of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, was cleared of involvement in a real estate land scam. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) filed an affidavit declaring him innocent.
Allegations Against Vadra
Robert Vadra was accused of involvement in a real estate land scam alongside real estate developer DLF. The PMO informed the Allahabad High Court that the allegations against Mr. Vadra were false and unreliable, based mainly on rumors.
Court Proceedings
Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had instructed the PMO to file an affidavit in response to a petition filed by activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal demanded a Central government investigation into the alleged links between Vadra and DLF.
PMO Response
The PMO affidavit dismissed Kejriwal’s petition, labeling it as a mere publicity stunt more aligned with political interests than public interest. The affidavit was submitted to the Allahabad HC’s Lucknow Bench.
High Court Orders
During a hearing for the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by activist Nutan Thakur, the Allahabad HC directed the PMO to clarify its stance on investigating Vadra and DLF. The affidavit, prepared by joint secretary Dheeraj Gupta, stated that the relationship between Vadra and DLF was a private business matter.
Defendant Responses
Both Mr. Vadra and the real estate firm DLF have explained their positions regarding the allegations. The affidavit accused Nutan Thakur of basing her PIL solely on newspaper reports. The case will be heard again on Thursday, with Asok Pande representing the petitioner in court.
Initial Appeals
Nutan Thakur’s initial appeal for a central probe went unheard by the PMO. She then approached the Allahabad HC with her PIL. Her petition was heard on October 11 by a division bench consisting of Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice VK Dixit. The court then asked the Centre to file its objections to her petition.
Background of Allegations
The alleged real estate dealings between DLF and Mr. Vadra were first exposed by activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal. He accused Mr. Vadra of buying real estate properties from DLF with unsecured, interest-free loans, alleging purchases worth crores of rupees between 2007 and 2010. Thakur noted that many questions raised by the media remain unanswered and urged the PMO to explain how a company could accumulate Rs.500-crore with only Rs.50 lakh as an initial investment.