The Asian Age

CBI launches probe into 18 land deals by Vadra, others

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

The CBI on Wednesday began its probe into 18 cases referred to it by the Rajasthan government for the alleged irregulari­ties in land deals in Bikaner by firms, including one reportedly linked to Robert Vadra, son-inlaw of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Sources said the CBI had re-registered 18 FIRs over these land deals, which were earlier probed by the Rajasthan police. “The cases pertain to fraudulent and fictitious claims and allotments in lieu of land acquired for Mahajan Field Firing Range Bikaner, that is used by the Army,” a CBI spokespers­on said here.

Among the 18 FIRs filed by the CBI, 16 were lodged at Gajner police station and two at Kolayat police station in Bikaner between August and September 2014, sources in the CBI said. The Rajasthan government had earlier asked the CBI to probe alleged land scams in Bikaner, including those involving a firm reportedly linked to Mr Vadra. The Congress had accused the state government of misusing the CBI ahead of Assembly elections.

The CBI on Wednesday began its probe into 18 cases referred to it by the Rajasthan government regarding alleged irregulari­ties in land deals in Bikaner by companies, including one reportedly linked to Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Sources said the agency has re-registered 18 FIRs in connection with these land deals, which were earlier being investigat­ed by the Rajasthan police. “The cases pertain to fraudulent and fictitious claims and allotments in lieu of land acquired for Mahajan Field Firing Range Bikaner, which is used by the Army,” a CBI spokespers­on said here.

Among the 18 FIRs registered by the agency, 16 were lodged at the Gajner police station and two at the Kolayat police station in Bikaner between August and September, 2014, agency sources said. The cases were referred to the CBI by the Centre on the request of the Rajasthan government.

The Congress had accused the state government of misusing the CBI ahead of Assembly elections.

“As many as 18 FIRs are registered. Four of them are against Vadra’s company

The CBI re-registered 18 FIRs, that were originally filed in 2014, in connection with land deals in Bikaner which were being investigat­ed by the Rajasthan police

Congress claims the BJP is misusing the CBI ahead of Assembly elections

which were 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,” Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria had said on August 22 after referring the matter to the CBI.

He had alleged that Mr Vadra’s company was the third party to purchase 275 bigha of land in 2010 and it sold it to a fourth party in 2012.

 ??  ?? Robert Vadra
Robert Vadra

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