Court issues notice to Vadra in Haryana ‘land scam’, ED alleges money laundering trail

A Delhi court has issued a formal notice to Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in connection with a money laundering case linked to a controversial land deal in Haryana.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claims that the transaction not only involved forged documents, but also generated illicit profits that were used to acquire other assets.

During a hearing at Rouse Avenue Court, Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Sushant Changotra said he would first hear Vadra and 10 other accused before deciding on taking cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on August 28.

The case revolves around a 3.5-acre land parcel, which was purchased by Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality, from a firm called Onkareshwar Properties for Rs 7.5 crore in February 2008.

The ED has alleged that fake documents were used in the transaction and within 24 hours, the property was mutated in Skylight’s favour and subsequently transferred to Vadra.

According to the probe agency, the Haryana Government, then under Congress CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, granted an unusually fast commercial license to Skylight Hospitality, which sharply raised the land’s market value. By September 2012, Vadra’s firm had reportedly sold the property to real estate giant DLF for Rs 58 crore, resulting in what the ED described as “windfall gains”.

The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that the massive profits generated from the DLF deal formed the proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It added that these funds were later channelled into the purchase of additional properties and assets by Vadra and entities linked to him.

Although Vadra has denied any wrongdoing and insisted that the land deal was lawful and transparent, the ED has continued to press ahead with its investigation. The agency has argued that the entire transaction chain shows a deliberate pattern of gain through abuse of political connections and manipulation of government procedures.