Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 16: A Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to businessman Robert Vadra in a money laundering case connected to a 2008 land transaction in Gurugram’s Shikohpur village.
The order was passed by the Rouse Avenue Court, which directed that Vadra be released on bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000 along with a surety of an equal amount. The court has scheduled the next hearing in the case for July 10.
Vadra appeared before the court in response to summons issued after it took cognisance of a prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case stems from alleged irregularities in the purchase of 3.53 acres of land in Haryana in 2008. According to the ED, Vadra’s firm, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, acquired the land for Rs 7.50 crore from Omkareshwar Properties Private Limited. The agency alleges that the transaction involved no genuine payment and that forged or misleading details were included in the sale documents, including references to a cheque that was neither issued nor cleared.
Investigators further claim that the land was undervalued, resulting in loss of stamp duty, and that the alleged proceeds of crime were later circulated through multiple linked entities.
The ED has pegged the alleged proceeds of crime at Rs 58 crore and has also provisionally attached 43 immovable properties valued at about Rs 38.69 crore, said to be connected to Vadra and related entities.
Earlier, on April 15, the Rouse Avenue Court had issued summons to Vadra and eight other accused after taking cognisance of the ED complaint and directing their appearance.
In parallel proceedings, Vadra did not receive immediate relief from the Delhi High Court in his challenge to the trial court’s decision to take cognisance of the case. During arguments, his counsel, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, contended that certain offences included in the predicate case were added to the PMLA schedule after the alleged offence period.
Opposing this, ED counsel Zoheb Hossain argued that Vadra had made incorrect statements in his plea and urged dismissal of the petition with costs. The High Court has now posted the matter for further hearing on May 18.
Vadra is the husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.