Anti-corruption activists on Friday accused Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of the Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi, of being involved in illegal land deals with a major real estate company.
Arvind Kejriwal of India Against Corruption said in a news conference that Mr. Vadra's five companies received an unsecured, interest-free loan of 650 million rupees ($12.5 million) from the real estate firm DLF, even though the companies were valued at only 5 million rupees. Mr. Kejriwal also alleged that the money was used to buy properties from DLF at below-market rates.
The activist provided a list of properties that he said were owned by Mr. Vadra and the balance sheets of his c ompanies, alleging that Mr. Vadra was able to buy properties worth 3 billion rupees even though his companies were worth much less as collateral.
“Prima facie, the facts above show commission of offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act, as well offenses under the Income Tax Act. Why are these ostensible offenses not being investigates?†said a statement from Mr. Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan, another India Against Corruption activist.
Sandeep Dikshit, a Congress spokesman, told CNN-IBN, a private news channel, “I am sure wherever his properties are, he will be able to give his clarification.â€
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari called the allegations “baseless, misconceived and utterly irresponsible†Friday evening, and local news reported that Mr. Vadra's mother-in-law defended him.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, spokesman of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, said, “This is a serious matter, and it should be investigated thoroughly.â€
