CBI takes over land scam case linked to Robert Vadra

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered 18 cases on Wednesday related to the controversial land deals allegedly executed by companies, including one owned by Robert Vadra — son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The development comes a week after the Rajasthan government recommended a CBI probe into a number of 'dubious' land deals in Bikaner.

"We have formally taken over the cases registered by the Rajasthan government into the matter,"a senior CBI officer said. He added, "The said cases are related to alleged fraudulent and fictitious claims/allotments in lieu of land acquired for Mahajan Field Firing Range, Bikaner used by the Indian Army."

The agency has registered 18 cases under various sections of the Indian Penal Code on Rajasthan government's request and further notifications from the Central government. The agency stated that 16 FIRs were registered at Gajner police station, while the other two at Kolayat police station in Bikaner.

The state police in 2014, on the basis of the local tehsildar, had received the complaint. They had also filed charge sheets in all cases in a Kolayat court in 2015.

The government land in 34 villages of Bikaner district, set to be used for expanding army's firing range in the area, was 'grabbed' by the land mafia through 'forged and fabricated documents' in connivance with some government officials. "A lumpsome amount of money was laundered in the deals through people buying land with forged documents," said a CBI official.

The alleged land grab case pertains to acquisition of around 1,400 acres of land, sold to seven companies between 2009 and 2011. One of these was Sky Light Hospitality, a firm linked to Vadra.

The state government recommended CBI probe in land scams in Bikaner, including those companies that are linked to Robert Vadra.

After finding irregularities in the land deals, the state had cancelled mutations (transfer of land) of nearly 374.44 hectares of land in Bikaner district. Revenue department had found that the allotments were made in the names of 'fake private individuals' in 34 villages.

In September 2015, ED had also registered a money laundering case arising out of land grab case in Bikaner in Rajasthan also involving a firm allegedly linked to Vadra. ED had conducted similar searches in the case in Delhi in 2015.

Connecting dots

Rajasthan state government had recommended a CBI probe in acquisition of 1,400 acres of government land between 2009 and 2011. 
However, the state police took up the case and filed a 18 FIRs in 2014. 
The police probe revealed that one of the companies linked in the land scam was Sky Light Hospitality, a firm linked to Rovert Vadra.