Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote to the state government following an RTI query by activist Debashish Bhattacharya. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote to the state government following an RTI query by activist Debashish Bhattacharya.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has requested the Himachal Pradesh government not to divulge her property details in the state since that can put her life in danger.

Priyanka wrote to the state government following a July 2014 RTI query by activist Debashish Bhattacharya. According to the Shimla deputy commissioner, the information cannot be shared as Priyanka is an SPG protectee.

In his query, Bhattacharya had sought copies of land records for Priyanka's properties. The records sought by the activist include those on registration-cum-sale deed, status of the land and the permission granted under Section 118 of the HP Land and Tenancy Act. Acting on the application, the additional district magistrate (ADM) of Shimla on July 21, 2014, had asked the tehsildar of Shimla (Rural) to provide the information. However, in August 2014, the ADM changed his views. "On 6th August of 2014, the ADM took a U-turn and issued notice to Kehar Singh Khachi, the special power of attorney (SPA) on record of Priyanka Gandhi, and sought his approval for providing the information. In the meantime, the tehsildar also sought fees for providing 30 pages of information on 7th August 2014," Bhattacharya said.

On August 25 of 2014 the ADM informed Bhattacharya that the information related to the khasra number cannot be shared due to security reasons. He disposed off the RTI application by partially releasing information. While he agreed to release the file notings, he refused to divulge information related to the khasra number, citing security concerns.

Then on September 2, Bhattacharya filed an appeal before the deputy commissioner of Shimla, stating that the reasons for not sharing information were not justified, as the view of the entire land was already available on Google Map.

Property owned by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Himachal Pradesh. Property owned by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Himachal Pradesh.

The deputy commissioner disposed off Bhattacharya's appeal on October 28, observing that Kehar Singh Khachi wasn't Priyanka's special power of attorney on the date of RTI application. ADM Shimla was directed to process the RTI application afresh involving a new special power of attorney of Priyanka.

Bhattacharya then moved a second appeal on November 19 before the State Information Commission in Shimla.

On November 28, Shimla ADM disposed off the RTI application, saying that new special power of attorney S. Ramakrishnan was appointed by Priyanka and after considering his reply, the entire information can be released. With that the ADM amended his own order of August 25. A time period of 10 days was allowed. However, the Public Information Officer did not provide the information within that time.

When asked, Shimla deputy commissioner Dinesh Malhotra said the information was denied on the basis of a court order and the recommendations of SPG as Priyanka Gandhi enjoys the SPG security cover. "The matter is semi-judicial. I cannot comment on it. The information was denied on the basis of a court order and on the recommendation of SPG," Malhotra said.

Meanwhile, on January 9 this year, state chief information commissioner Bhim Sen passed an interim order of imposition of penalty on Shimla ADM for delaying release of information for five months.

The BJP in Himachal Pradesh has criticised the state government over the case.

