CHANDIGARH, HARYANA // A state official has blocked a land deal between Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of the Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi, and one of the country's biggest property developers.
Ashok Khemka cancelled the deal on Monday. It was his last day in office as Haryana's director general of land consolidation and land records, and inspector general of registration.
The sale of more than 1.4 hectares on New Delhi's outskirts to DLF Universal by a company owned by Mr Vadra was worth 580 million rupees (Dh40.3m).
Haryana's Congress-ruled government had ordered Mr Khemka to be transferred from his post on October 11, three days after he launched an inquiry into the activities in four state districts near Delhi of businesses owned by Mr Vadra.
He had directed officials in Gurgaon, Mewat, Faridabad and Palwal to investigate land deals since 2005 for undervaluation of property to evade taxes. He called for a report to be filed by October 25.
But the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday said the Haryana government was not investigating the "undue benefits" in the land deals and instead was inquiring into the conduct of the officer.
"What is needed is an impartial probe," said the party spokesman Prakash Javadekar.
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Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Race card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
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10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
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The National selections
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On sale: Now
Meydan race card
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
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If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
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Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
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Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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On sale: Now