CBI registers preliminary inquiry of disinvestment of Laxmi Villas, Udaipur

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a preliminary inquiry in the matter of disinvestment of Laxmi Villas in Udaipur, Rajasthan, during the BJP-led NDA regime.

The government hotel was sold to the Bharat group which runs Lalit Hotel in 2002. CBI is likely to probe the owner of Lalit hotel group Jyotsna Suri and BJP leader Arun Shourie for this.

CBI has alleged that the hotel was sold to the Bharat group at a throwaway price of Rs 7 crore when the prevalent market rate was over Rs 150 crore.

The enquiry has named Bharat Hotels, Krantikram and Co, a private evaluator, and Lagarde India, which was the advisor to the government for the deal.