Besides Vadra firm, benefits to others cost state Rs 140 crore

CHANDIGARH: Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra’s firm Skylight Hospitality was not the only firm allegedly given undue benefits by the previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in Haryana.

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra’s firm Skylight Hospitality was not the only firm allegedly given undue benefits by the previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in Haryana. Four other firms were allegedly extended undue benefits by the Congress Government which resulted in the revenue loss of about Rs140 crore to the state exchequer.

A CAG report tabled in the Haryana Assembly yesterday has alleged that the Town and Country Planning Department “neither at the time of granting in-principle approval nor at the time of formal approval for transfer of licences ensured that net profit beyond 15 per cent of the total cost accrued to the public exchequer.”

The report said four licencees earned a total profit of about Rs165 crore on the investment of Rs52 crore on the sale of land without completing the projects while the government was deprived of its share of net profit.

“The lack of transparency and consistency in the development of commercial areas by the colonisers was noticed in processing applications of colonisers, deciding the compactness of the area to be developed, fixing area norms for setting up commercial colonies, assessing financial adequacy and transfer of licences,” the report alleged.

Among the realty firms, Sun Star Builders Private Limited and Witness Construction Private Limited jointly earned a profit of Rs93.64 crore on the sale of land with the original land cost being Rs31 lakh while the selling price was Rs93.64 crore.

Botil Oil Tools earned a profit of Rs43.95 crore as the selling price was Rs44 crore as compared to the original cost of Rs5 lakh.

Similarly, Uppal Housing earned a profit of Rs25.5 crore since the original land price was Rs44 crore but the land was sold for Rs69.5 crore.

In another case, Mark Buildtech earned a profit of Rs1.62 crore with the land cost being Rs40 lakh and the sale price Rs2.02 crore.

Meanwhile, Mahua Pal, Principal Accountant-General(Audit), Haryana, said the CAG had discharged its constitutional duty of conducting the performance audit and it was for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha to take appropriate action in the matter.

What officer says

The CAG has discharged its constitutional duty of conducting the performance audit. Now, it is for the Public Accounts Committee of the Vidhan Sabha to take action in the matter — Mahua Pal, Principal Accountant General (Audit)