The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sealed a land parcel in Arjansar village in Rajasthan. The land parcel belongs to one Jaiprakash Bagarwa. Jaiprakash is known as a close associate of the Congress party President Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra. The ED probe had been ongoing for a long period. There were many other people whose names are associated with the cases related to land deals which resulted in unaccounted profits in the Bikaner, Rajasthan and Gurgaon, Haryana as well. The ED is likely to go after the associates of the Skylight Hospitality group which is based in Gurgaon. The Skylights Hospitality group is the company owned by Robert Vadra.
Robert Vadra and his company have been facing troubles since the past few years for shady land deals which resulted in huge profits for his company. The first voice against the suspicious activities of Robert Vadra was raised by Haryana IAS officer Ashok Khemka in 2013. Khemka accused Vadra and his Skylight Hospitality group of purchasing and selling land worth crores of rupees in Gurugram , Haryana. Khemka’s allegations were followed by Rao Inderjit Singh, a three time Congress MP, four terms MLA and a former minister who publically demanded a detailed investigation in the irregularities in the land license issued to Vadra. It was surprising for many that a Congress Party leader had decided to open his mouth and ask for an investigation against the son-in-law of the then Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi.
Vadra’s troubles have constantly increased over the subsequent years as his company became linked with cases related to land grabbing in Rajasthan as well. The ED and Central Bureau of Investigation were investigating cases related to irregularities in land deals in the state. The deals were made by 8 companies one of which is linked to Robert Vadra. The ED was conducting a probe in the alleged money laundering in the Kolayat land deal.
On August 22, 2017 after referring the matter to CBI, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria had said: “As many as 18 FIRs are registered. Four of them are against Vadra’s company which was allegedly involved in illegal purchase of nearly 275 bigha land. All the 18 FIRs are in connection with the purchase of close to 1,400 bigha land in fake names.”
The ED today put up a board on the land owned by Robert Vadra in Bikaner. ED had earlier seized the property and a notice being pulled up shows that the ED has sufficient proof against Vadra. The troubles may deepen for Robert Vadra who may be subjected to more scrutiny in the coming future. The functioning of his company and his associates has been criticized many a times in the past as well but Congress Party had shielded him in the past from the scrutiny of the agencies.
But there is nobody to shield Vadra and his company now. His links and his modus operandi have now been exposed and the ED and other agencies are looking forward to give Vadra a taste of justice. Tough times will definitely follow for him. We hope he has the proofs at his disposal to prove his innocence, failing which he could probably be left helpless.