Robert Vadra Granted Bail in Money Laundering Case Linked to Land Deal
Court Grants Bail to Robert Vadra
File image of businessman Robert Vadra(Photo: @HSurkhiyan/X)
New Delhi, May 16: On Saturday, a court in New Delhi approved bail for businessman Robert Vadra in connection with a money laundering investigation tied to a land transaction from 2008 in Shikohpur village, Gurugram.
The Rouse Avenue Court set the bail amount at Rs 50,000, requiring Vadra to provide a surety of the same value.
The next hearing for this case is scheduled for July 10.
Vadra complied with a summons to appear before the Rouse Avenue Court after the court acknowledged the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
This case involves alleged discrepancies in a land deal concerning 3.53 acres in Shikohpur, Haryana.
The ED has accused Vadra, who is married to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and is the son-in-law of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, of generating illicit profits from this land deal.
According to the investigation, Vadra's company, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, purchased the land in February 2008 for Rs 7.50 crore from Omkareshwar Properties Private Limited.
It is alleged that no actual payment was made, and the sale deed included false claims, such as a cheque that was never issued or cashed.
The ED further claims that the land was sold at a lower value to evade stamp duty, with the illicit funds being funneled through various entities allegedly controlled by Vadra.
The federal agency has identified Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime and has provisionally attached 43 properties worth Rs 38.69 crore linked to Vadra and his associates.
Previously, on April 15, the Rouse Avenue Court had summoned Vadra and eight others after recognizing the ED's complaint, instructing them to appear.
In a separate matter, Vadra's attempt to obtain immediate relief from the Delhi High Court regarding the trial court's cognizance of the ED's complaint was unsuccessful.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Vadra, argued that certain offenses cited in the original case were added to the PMLA schedule after the alleged crime occurred.
In response, ED counsel Zoheb Hossain argued that Vadra had made misleading statements in his petition and requested the Delhi High Court to dismiss it with costs.
After considering arguments from both parties, the Delhi High Court postponed the hearing until May 18.