Rahul Gandhi Denies Chautala's Allegations on Land

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi dismissed as "entirely false, utterly baseless and defamatory" allegations by former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala that his purchase of 6.5 acre land in Haryana was irregular.

Chautala, of the Indian National Lok Dal, alleged wrongdoings in Gandhi's purchase of 6.5 acre land in Hassanpur in Palwal district of Haryana bought March 3, 2008.

Talking to reporters in Jalandhar in Punjab, he said while Gandhi bought the land in Hassanpur, his brother-in-law Robert Vadra had purchased land in Gurgaon from the same seller. Vadra is embroiled in a controversy over various land deals in Haryana.

Gandhi's office, in a late evening statement, said the land in Hassanpur was bought March 3, 2008 at a price of 26.47 lakh paid through a cheque at the rate of 4.10 lakh an acre.

It also said that the Congress leader paid stamp duty of six percent amounting to 1.58 lakh for the purchase.

"Allegations made by Om Prakash Chautala against Rahul Gandhi in his press conference in Jalandhar are entirely false, utterly baseless and defamatory," it said.