Can't rule out Robert Vadra's statement, says retired judge probing land deals

Gurgaon: Robert Vadra, businessman and Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, could be called to record his statement "if required" over alleged irregularities in grant of licenses for commercial and residential projects in Gurgaon, said a retired judge probing the case.

Justice (retd.) Shiv Narayan Dhingra, a former judge of the Delhi High Court, is heading a panel that is looking into grant of licenses for commercial and residential projects in four villages in Sector 83 of Gurgaon in Haryana from 2005 to 2014 when the Congress was in power.

When asked about deals involving Mr Vadra, Justice Dhingra said, "I would investigate licences of Vadra if these were granted to him in Sector 83."

"My mandate is to investigate whether revenue loss was committed and whether all formalities and procedures were completed or not while issuing the licenses in these sectors," he said.

The panel, he said, will also probe the subsequent transfers and disposals of the licences to third parties.

Justice Dhingra said that the Commission will soon issue a public notice inviting people to depose before it if they had any views or objections regarding the licences.

He also said that an audio system had been installed in his office to record statements of witnesses, copies of which could be handed to him if he needed them during the probe.

He said that there are an estimated 150-200 licenses that were issued in the areas that are under investigation. Justice Dhingra also said that he would complete his inquiry within the assigned time frame of six months.