Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 9: Businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, allegedly received Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime from a questionable land transaction in Gurugram, according to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The federal agency detailed its findings in a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) submitted to a Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED claims that Rs 53 crore was funneled through Sky Light Hospitality, while an additional Rs 5 crore came via Blue Breeze Trading. These funds, the agency asserts, were used by Vadra to purchase properties, make investments, issue loans, and settle liabilities across his business network.
The court has scheduled August 28 to consider taking cognisance of the complaint and has issued a notice to Vadra in connection with the case.
Properties Linked and Attached
The agency has provisionally attached 43 immovable properties, valued at Rs 38.69 crore, claiming they represent direct or equivalent proceeds of crime.
These include:
• Directly linked properties:
o Land in Bikaner, Rajasthan
o Units in Good Earth City Centre, Gurugram
o Units in Bestech Business Tower, Mohali
o Residential units in Jay Ambe Township, Ahmedabad
• Value equivalent properties:
o Agricultural land in Amipur, Faridabad
o Plots in Mayfield Garden, Gurugram
o Commercial units in Centrum Plaza and Bestech Business Tower, Gurugram
o Commercial spaces in India Expo Mart, Noida
o Apartment in The Aralias, Gurugram
The ED noted that these assets are owned by Vadra directly or via entities such as Artex (a sole proprietorship), Sky Light Realty Pvt Ltd, and Real Earth Estates LLP.
Charges and Allegations
In its filing, the ED invoked multiple sections of the PMLA, including provisions related to burden of proof, interconnected transactions, and non-bailable offences. Section 3, concerning the offence of money laundering, has been central to the complaint.
A key element of the case is a land deal from 2008 in which Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd, acquired 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur village from Omkareshwar Properties Pvt Ltd for Rs 7.5 crore. The ED has alleged that this was a sham transaction, intended as a quid pro quo.
According to the agency, although the sale deed claimed the payment was made via cheque, the cheque was never encashed. Further, the true market value of the land was allegedly Rs 15 crore, not Rs 7.5 crore as declared, which led to stamp duty evasion of Rs 45 lakh—an offence under Section 423 of the Indian Penal Code.
The ED claims this transaction was effectively a bribe: Omkareshwar transferred the land to Skylight Hospitality without actual payment, and in return, Vadra is alleged to have influenced then Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to facilitate a housing licence for Omkareshwar in the same village.
The agency is now seeking maximum punishment under PMLA, including up to seven years of imprisonment and confiscation of assets.
This high-profile case continues to be politically sensitive, with implications for both the Congress party and ongoing debates about corruption and cronyism in land deals.