HC notice to Haryana on Vadra-promoted firm’s petition

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Haryana government on a petition filed by Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, a company promoted by Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, challenging VAT notice. The HC has sought a response from the government by April 4.

The case came up for hearing before a Division Bench, comprising Justice AK Mittal and Justice Raj Rahul Garg. The matter pertains to Shikohpur land deal in Gurgaon between Skylight and DLF.

The firm has challenged a notice by the excise department of October 12, 2015 under section 16 of Haryana value Added Tax (VAT) Act, 2003. The firm has also sought a direction to respondents not to proceed further with the assessment proceedings until complete relevant information or records were provided to it by the department. 

The sale deed for the 3.53-acre land deal between Vadra s firm and DLF Limited took place on the payment of stamp duty and other statutory charges in 2012.

The firm has submitted that it had not sold the licence and only transferred the licence of commercial colony to DLF after the government permission. 

The Court was told that upon receiving the VAT notice, the firm made various representations to the department to provide records submitted by the Town and Country Planning department pertaining to the land deal and assessment by the department that the company sold the licence to DLF for Rs 58 crore.