NEW DELHI:Activists Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan have accused Robert Vadra of having dubious deals with DLF, a real estate giant, which, they alleged, provided Vadra loans worth Rs 65 crore without any interests and properties at discounted prices. The Congress denied the allegations outrightly and termed them "wild".
Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said that it was a conspiracy to malign the Gandhi family. DLF also issued a statement saying that its deals with Vadra were transparent, adhering to highest standards of ethics.
The activists levelled the allegations in a press conference here. They alleged that Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has been involved in illicit deals with DLF and accused the both of dishonest practices to gain favours from each other.
Kejriwal alleged that Vadra bought DLF properties with the money and that too at discounted prices. “He (Vadra) obtained an interest free loan worth Rs 65 crore from DLF and bought DLF property worth Rs 65 crore for Rs 5 crore. This leaves many questions unanswered?”
Kejriwal's associate Bhushan alleged that Vadra has been on a property buying spree in the last four years. He said that his deals with DLF raise questions as to how DLF benefited from giving away interest free loans and selling property to Vadra at discounted rates. Explaining this, the activists further alleged that DLF benefited from obtaining vast tracts of land in different states at the behest of Congress party.
Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit said that a person has the right to live the way he wants as long as he pays his taxes. "A story on this matter had appeared in a newspaper and Vadra had replied to it then and explained his stand clearly. The party is being related to it unfairly."
"All businessmen take loans to build their businesses. Maybe Vadra also took loans. What is wrong with that? There is nothing to prove any wrong-doing, no proof that Congress helped DLF," said Congress leader Rajiv Shukla.
Congress leader Manish Tewari also said the activists were indulging in "dirty opportunism" by making unsubstantiated charges to grab attention for their new (unnamed) party ahead of elections in states like Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
