EC seeks report in Robert Vadra's Gurgaon land deal case

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has sought a report from the Haryana chief electoral officer on the state government's decision to clear a Gurgaon land deal involving Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.

The report will help the EC ascertain the facts of the case and determine if the approval was in violation of the model code of conduct.

"The EC has asked the state CEO and chief secretary to revert with the details of alleged letter validating mutation of the land relating to the deal between M/s Skylight Hospitality owned by Vadra and real-estate firm DLF Universal Ltd. We need to authenticate the timing of approval of the land deal to judge whether the poll code has been violated," a senior Commission official told TOI on Tuesday. The report is expected to reach EC on Wednesday, after which it will be discussed at the full Commission meeting.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought EC's intervention against Haryana government's approval of the Vadra land deal, claiming that it went against the model code. However, even as the EC awaits a factual report on the letter issued by Gurgaon deputy commissioner validating mutation of the land in Shikhopur, Gurgaon, a senior Commission official said it may not be able to intervene in case it is confirmed that the okay was given on July 16, when the model code of conduct had not yet come into force.

"While the Gurgaon deputy commissioner's letter validating mutation of the land relating to the deal between M/s Skylight Hospitality owned by Vadra and real-estate giant DLF Universal Ltd, as per media reports, dates back to July 16, the model code of conduct in Haryana came into play only after the polls were announced on September 12. So, the EC may not come into the picture at all," said a senior Commission official.

The official further pointed out that even if the MCC had been force at the time of the approval of the land deal by Haryana government, the EC would intervene only if it involved a policy decision. "If it is only an individual case, the model code of conduct would not be attracted," said the EC official.

Modi had, while addressing an election rally in Hisar on Monday, urged the EC to look into Haryana government's approval of the Vadra land deal. "They (Hooda government) know that after the elections, the son-in-law (Vadra) will not get any clearances for illegal deals. So, in between the election process, they have dared to take such a decision," he said alleging that Hooda may have been pressured "from the top" (of the Congress leadership) to take such a decision.

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