Robert Vadra Appears Before ED in Ongoing Land Deal Money Laundering Probe
Businessman and Congress MP Robert Vadra, husband of Priyanka Gandhi, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi on Tuesday.
He was summoned in connection with a money laundering investigation tied to a land deal in Shikohpur village, Gurugram.
The summon came a day after Vadra publicly expressed readiness to enter politics, stating he would do so if the Congress wished and with the blessings of his family.
Sources said this is the first time Vadra has been called in relation to this specific case, which stems from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Haryana Police in 2018. The ED began its own probe following the FIR.
Vadra Denies Charges, Calls It Political Targeting
Outside the ED office, Robert Vadra responded to media questions, saying, “I hope there is a conclusion today,” in a case he insisted has “nothing.”
He called the summons “a political vendetta” orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and accused the party of attempting to obstruct his political entry.
“We told the ED we were organising our documents, I am always ready to be here… I hope there’s a conclusion today. There is nothing in the case… When I speak in favor of the country, I am stopped, Rahul is stopped from speaking in the Parliament. BJP is doing it. This is a political vendetta. People love me and want me to join politics…” Vadra told ANI.
He further added, “When I express my willingness to join politics, they bring up old issues to bring me down and divert from the real issues… There is nothing in the case. I have been summoned 15 times and interrogated for more than 10 hours every time for the last 20 years. Organising 23,000 documents is not easy.”
Details of the Land Deal
The case revolves around a 3.5-acre land deal from 2008 involving Vadra’s firm, Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd. The company purchased the land in Shikohpur from Onkareshwar Properties for ₹7.5 crore.
It is alleged that the land’s mutation was completed within 25 hours. Later, after receiving clearance to develop an apartment complex, the land was sold to DLF for ₹58 crore.
The deal was flagged by IAS officer Ashok Khemka, prompting BJP accusations that land meant for farmers was misappropriated. Both Vadra and then Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda have consistently denied the allegations.
Connections to Other Investigations
In December 2023, Hindustan Times reported that a chargesheet had been filed against fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and British national Sumit Chadha in a separate case.
The ED then alleged that Robert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had acquired multiple land parcels in Haryana via a Delhi-based real estate agent who had also sold land to NRI businessman CC Thampi.
This development coincided with the ED naming Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in a chargesheet related to the National Herald case.
Six Hours of Questioning, More Summons Ahead
Vadra was questioned for over six hours on Tuesday after arriving at the ED office in Delhi at around 11 am.
He left around 6 pm and has been asked to appear again on Wednesday. The 56-year-old businessman did not respond to a prior ED summons issued on April 8.
A Walk to the ED Office and a Message
On Tuesday morning, Vadra walked 2 km from his Central Delhi residence in Sujan Singh Park to the ED headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road.
Speaking to reporters en route, he said the case was nearly two decades old and reiterated his claims of political targeting by the BJP.
“Whenever I speak in the interests of the people or of minorities, on the shortcomings of the government, or even hint that I am thinking of entering politics, they begin misusing central investigative agencies.
There is nothing in the case. It does not take 20 years to find something. I have been there (to investigating agencies’ offices) 15 times, been questioned for more than 10 hours (at a time) and submitted 23,000 documents. Then they ask me to resubmit 23,000 documents in a week. How can it work like this?” he said in Hindi.
“Case Needs to Reach a Conclusion”
While stepping out of the ED’s office for lunch, Vadra said he was willing to answer all questions but emphasized that the investigation must come to a conclusion. “How can you be talking about something that happened so long ago,” he asked.
As the political and legal battles continue, Vadra maintains that the ongoing inquiries are motivated by efforts to derail his political ambitions and to shift attention from pressing public issues.
