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Rajasthan seeks CBI probe into Robert Vadra land deals

The Vadra land deals had been a major campaign issue for the BJP during 2013 poll campaign and the CBI recommendation has been welcomed by the party

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The Rajasthan government on Tuesday recommended to the Centre to initiate CBI investigation into the alleged land scams in Bikaner, involving Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said state Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria.

"The matter is a complicated one and spread over several years. We have conducted our investigations and even arrested several persons but have come to the conclusion that the case needs to be further investigated by the CBI," said Kataria. Vadra companies are involved in the purchase and sale of 275 bighas of land and there are four FIRs against them, he told DNA.

"The lands in question were sold and resold by the owners since 2010. We feel that this large-level scam of usurping land, given as compensation to those whose land was acquired for Mahajan Firing Range, involves many more people. Involvement of government officials cannot be ruled out as the land was registered under fake names and identities. This necessitates a CBI inquiry," he said.

The Vadra land deals had been a major campaign issue for the BJP during 2013 poll campaign and the CBI recommendation has been welcomed by the party. "We welcome the decision. The CBI is an independent body and we hope for a fair inquiry. Congress should welcome the decision," said state BJP chief Ashok Parnami.

PCC chief Sachin Pilot welcomed the decision, but demanded that findings of the state inquiry be made public. "We are open to all inquiries. Rajasthan government has initiated an inquiry, the findings should be made public," said Pilot.       

Bikaner MP and union minister Arjun Meghwal, who had been concertedly raising the issue, too welcomed the decision. "We are sure the CBI will bring all the culprits to book. The issue needs thorough holistic investigation by the specialised agency," said Meghwal.

The issue is related to land given as compensation to those displaced by the Mahajan Firing Range. Actual beneficiaries had not got the land, instead it had been allotted to false persons. The land had subsequently been sold and resold till 2012. The land was subsequently sold to solar power companies.

The matter was raised in the state assembly in 2014 and subsequently a total of 18 FIRs had been registered for the 1,400 bighas of land. Out of these, four FIRs for 375 bighas were against Robert Vadra's companies.

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