Not just Haryana, Vadra made hay in Rajasthan too

After the sweetheart deals with DLF, Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, finds himself deeper in trouble for having amassed large tracts of land in Rajasthan’s Bikaner and many bhigas in Jaisalmer between 2007 and 2010. Land prices in Bikaner jumped 40 times after Robert Vadra started his investments.

According to media reports, Vadra, along with some investors, who were privy to information on upcoming industrial projects in the vicinity, purchased many properties that were registered in the names of various companies of Vadra, thereby reaping huge profits as land value appreciated. _Firstpost_ had earlier reported that Vadra, along with a top politician's son, are rumoured to have acquired large tracts of land around the upcoming Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway in Haryana, based on inside information, even before the government had announced that Master Plan for the area.

According to a DNA investigation, Vadra purchased 20 properties through group companies and the deals were executed on his behalf by Mahesh Nagar, brother of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee member Lalit Nagar.These companies together invested Rs 2.85 crore in barren land during this period.

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[caption id=“attachment_496225” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Robert Vadra in trouble again? Reuters[/caption]

The properties were purchased in the name of Vadra’s Real Earth Estates Pvt Ltd, Skylight Reality Ltd and Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd.

Over 3,000 hectares changed hands between 2009 and 2011 in Bikaner alone. Such deals led to further speculation and more investors queuing up. It is believed that the companies are interested in purchasing land in the region as it is rich in high quality gypsum and silica.

While the exact amount invested by Vadra is still unclear, another report in The Free Press Journal had this to say: _"_Vadra bought huge desert land totalling about 312 acres as he had the vision that the desert land would be bloom with huge investments in solar power. It is estimated that the land on National Highway 15 was sold for 10 times the price at which it was bought. The registration was done by Mahesh Nagar, brother of former Congress MLA from Faridabad, Lalit Nagar. Mahesh was given the power of attorney by Vadra’s company to sell the land and all the land bought or sold by Vadra’s companies had the signatures and photographs of Mahesh Nagar. All the land bought by Vadra’s company now enjoys premium of eight to 10 times and is worth several hundred crores," Hari Om Garg, a Bikaner-based activist, told the newspaper.

What’s even more interesting is that the 6.45 acres of land purchased by Rahul Gandhi in Hasanpur village in Haryana’s Palwal district in March 2008 was also done through Mahesh Nagar.