He was alleging against the country’s first ‘son-in-law’ – an open secret in drawing room discussions in Delhi and perhaps elsewhere.

The principal allegation was that Vadra’s five companies had allegedly bought property worth crores of rupees between 2007 and 2010 with an “unsecured interest free loan” of Rs 65 crore given to him by real estate major DLF. These companies had “no income from any legitimate business” activity except by way of interest derived from interest free loans from the DLF. And yet during 2007-2010 these firms acquired properties worth over Rs 300 crore.

Moreover, a 10,000 sq feet apartment in DLF Aralias (Gurgaon) is shown to be purchased for Rs 89 lakh in 2010 when its then market price was Rs 20 crore. Similarly, it was charged that a stake of 50 % share in a DLF-owned hotel in Saket is shown to be purchased for Rs 32 crore when its market value was well over Rs 150crore.

The first round of perception war despite the denial from an unknown place by Vadra backed by similar statements from DLF and Vadra’s infamous ‘Mango men’ remark went to Kejriwal.

“Yes, the Robert Vadra revelations have added one more feather to the UPA II’s scam-adorned cap,” wrote Indranil Sanyal in a letter to the editor in The Statesman.

“Yet another skeleton has tumbled out of the Congress’ closet. This time, it relates to Mr Robert Vadra….,” wrote another reader. People got generally convinced that DLF had extended favours worth `300 crore to Robert Vadra in lieu of considerations from the Congress governments in Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan between 2007 and 2010.

Vadra termed the allegations as ‘utterly false and defamatory’ and said he was ready to confront the negativity. Mind you, he did not say, he was ready for a probe.

Jokes surfaced on the internet: “We did everything very openly,” an imaginative quote of a spokesperson for DLF. “There is no question of favouritism. We are committed to providing the same benefits to anyone who marries Priyanka Gandhi.”

Another FB posting read: This is the real era of beginning of dissent! Arvind K could be .... but he has played a historical role in exposing political class — how they go silent in each other’s family affairs!

In other words, an angry India was getting ventilated. On the other hand, like the Indian batting squad against odds – crumbles – Congressmen and women pushed to the wall – resorted to their ‘AICC manufactured’ – art of sycophancy. A series of silly arguments came in from leaders and ministers who only looked sillier.

Veerappa Moily said, “India is not Germany and our democracy is well-nurtured.” His statement probably could make little sense to even his colleagues. From Salman Khurshid to Renuka Chowdhury all faced television cameras giving sound bytes in defence of an illustrious ‘private individual’ – of course the priceless ‘son-in-law’.

However, as the debate raged on Vadragate, the principal opposition BJP faced “Gadkari-gation”! Not surprisingly, the BJP leaders including the stalwart L K Advani was on similar ‘double standards’ like Congress – only difference being BJP saying “Gadkari is ready for probe, while Robert Vadra is not”.

Thus, predictably, both Vadra and the BJP leaders dismissed the respective charges against them. DLF too plunged into tactical defence of their customer/client/well wisher all rolled into one in Vadra. It said it had given Rs 65 crore as “business advances” out of which Rs 15 crore was fully refunded and Rs 50 crore was used for purchase of land.

DLF also said it neither received any undue benefit from any state governments nor was it allotted any land by Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan governments.  And so, there was no end to slug-fest as Kejriwal said the DLF was suppressing truths.

Truths in these cases have many forms. In fact in 2011, Vadra himself had attributed his brass-to-gold success story to hard work — and a little help from “family” friends like K.P. Singh, the chairman of the DLF Group.  Vadras originally had a brass business in UP’s Moradabad. Robert’s father was a Hindu and mother Christian and obviously in the Lutyen’s city, it’s a puzzle even today why of all men – dashing Priyanka Gandhi had to fall for Robert.

Rewind to 2011, Vadra had strongly denied taking any favours from DLF saying “I have a good understanding with DLF. Our children are friends, we are friends.”
“Hard work Mr Vadra may well have put into building his property empire. But the help he received from friends like DLF suggests at least a part of his success flowed from the willingness of others to bet on the outcome of his enterprise,” wrote The Hindu.

Charges against Robert Vadra # Vadra’s five companies had allegedly bought property worth crores of rupees between 2007 and 2010 with an “unsecured interest free loan” of Rs 65 crore given to him by DLF. # These companies had “no income from any legitimate business” activity except by way of interest derived from interest free loans from the DLF. And yet during 2007-2010 these firms acquired properties worth over Rs 300 crore. # A 10,000 sq feet apartment in DLF Aralias (Gurgaon) is shown to be purchased for Rs 89 lakh in 2010 when its then market price was Rs 20 crore. #  A stake of 50% share in a DLF-owned hotel in Saket is shown to be purchased for Rs 32 crore when its market value was well over Rs 150 crore.

PM’s sage like theory:

In the season of such high-profile controversies vis-à-vis corruption– involving a family member of Sonia Gandhi – the Prime Minister broke his silence literally.

At a conference of the CBI and State Anti-Corruption Bureaux, the Prime Minister almost prescribed that people of India virtually have lost the right to talk about corruption in the country. “Mindless atmosphere of negativity and pessimism that is sought to be created over the issue of corruption can do us no good. It can only damage the nation’s image and hit the morale of the executive,” went his sage like remarks.

The Coalgate scandal has been the fifth corruption case the ruling establishment has faced in the past eight years.

Hamam mein sab Nange (All are same)

However, the bigger issue that surfaced in the second fortnight of October is the ‘politics of full cycle’. True, the list of corruption episodes embroiling netas is endless. But rarely have the political masters been booked and put behind bars. And the scenario is unlikely to change.

Within hours Kejriwal targeted BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, Y P Singh, a former Mumbai cop, targeted Kejriwal  of illicit deals with Sharad Pawar. A day after Kejriwal targeted Gadkari, on October 18, the “Kejri-wall”, as the pun goes, was almost tarnished. Singh claimed Kejriwal knew of the quid pro quo in case of the Lavasa deal, and added, “I was surprised when Kejriwal chose to expose Vadra and Gadkari rather than the Pawars.”

Pushed to the wall, Kejriwal had to ultimately announce a panel of three retired judges to probe allegations of corruption against three key members of his team.

The drama has actually just begun as by last week of October, BJP chief Gadkari’s more shady deals in running his Purti Corporation came to light. Times Now channel reports claimed investigations revealed that directors in his company included people from Gadkari’s driver to a little known astrologer. The speculation was rife that inner battle in the saffron camp had just begun.