New Delhi: Justice SN Dhingra, the former judge investigating the land deals of businessman Robert Vadra - the son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi - has been given extra time to hand over his report amid criticism of his inquiry.
Justice Dhingra asked for an extension hours before his deadline ended yesterday. He said he wanted more time as "more documents were received" and need to be examined.
The new documents, he said, have 13 pages of transactions and arrived yesterday.
"You may say the timing is strange...and it looks also...But if some material is there, I think it's the duty of commission to consider that material," he told NDTV. Justice Dhingra had earlier said his report was ready.
Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar told reporters that this was not the first time that an inquiry had been extended. "The way in which the Congress has raised a hue and cry shows daal mein kuchh kala (there is something wrong)," he said.
The controversy around Mr Vadra is based on a 3.5-acre plot in Gurgaon, now known as Gurugram, that he bought in 2008 for 7.5 crores and sold just months later for 58 crores to India's largest real estate developer, DLF.
Mr Vadra's transaction is among deals in four Gurgaon villages that Justice Dhingra is investigating. Mr Vadra and DLF have denied any wrongdoing.
The BJP says the Congress, while in power in Haryana, facilitated the sale of land to Mr Vadra at a massive discount and also enabled fast clearances.
The Congress has questioned why Justice Dhingra did not summon either Mr Vadra or senior bureaucrat Ashok Khemka, who tried to cancel the land deal saying it was illegal.
The former judge's response was that "private parties were sent questionnaires to which they responded".
"Anybody is free to make allegations," he said.
The Congress has questioned the fairness of Justice Dhingra's inquiry, alleging that the Haryana government built a road to make a school operated by his charitable trust more accessible.
Denying the allegations, Justice Dhingra said: "If this is a favour, I would like this favour for all villages of Haryana. I am prepared to write for all villages of Haryana that they should provide paved roads."
Justice Dhingra asked for an extension hours before his deadline ended yesterday. He said he wanted more time as "more documents were received" and need to be examined.
The new documents, he said, have 13 pages of transactions and arrived yesterday.
Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar told reporters that this was not the first time that an inquiry had been extended. "The way in which the Congress has raised a hue and cry shows daal mein kuchh kala (there is something wrong)," he said.
Advertisement
Mr Vadra's transaction is among deals in four Gurgaon villages that Justice Dhingra is investigating. Mr Vadra and DLF have denied any wrongdoing.
Advertisement
The Congress has questioned why Justice Dhingra did not summon either Mr Vadra or senior bureaucrat Ashok Khemka, who tried to cancel the land deal saying it was illegal.
Advertisement
"Anybody is free to make allegations," he said.
Advertisement
Denying the allegations, Justice Dhingra said: "If this is a favour, I would like this favour for all villages of Haryana. I am prepared to write for all villages of Haryana that they should provide paved roads."
COMMENTS
Advertisement
151 Detained In Armenia For Protesting Azerbaijan Land Deal Robert Vadra, After Saying "If Amethi Wants Me", Bats For Congress Pick Fact Check: Is Priyanka Gandhi's Himachal Bungalow Illegally Built? Shooter Had Trump's Face Right In Middle Of Crosshairs, Shows New Video Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Delhi-San Francisco Air India Flight Diverted To Russia After Engine Glitch Congress Does Not Want Manipur Like Situation In Tripura: Gaurav Gogoi Ice-Cream Shop Owner Hospitalised After Being Shot At In Pune: Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.