Robert Vadra Made Rs 58 Crore Illegally: NDTV Accesses Gurugram Land Deal Chargesheet

A money laundering case has been filed against Robert Vadra, the businessman husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in connection with an alleged fraudulent land transaction in Shikohpur, Gurugram. The agency claims it generated illicit gains of Rs 58 crore, that was subsequently laundered into multiple assets.

The case has been filed under multiple sections of the anti-money laundering law, and seeks a three to seven year jail term for the accused, along with confiscation of all properties identified as proceeds of crime. 

The matter will be heard by a Special Court designated under the PMLA.

Cases have been filed against Mr Vadra's associates Satyanand Yajee and Kewal Singh Virk. Several companies linked to him, including M/s Sky Light Hospitality Pvt. Ltd, M/s Sky Light Realty Pvt. Ltd., and M/s Onkareshwar Properties Pvt. Ltd. (now SGY Properties Pvt. Ltd.) have also been named in the case.

Cases Against Robert Vadra

Robert Vadra faces three cases, and the first chargesheet was filed on July 17. Mr Vadra's office has said in a statement that the "proceedings are nothing more than an extension of the political witchhunt by the present government."

What The Charges Say

The chargesheet of the case, accessed by NDTV, indicates that the matter is linked to a First Information Repot filed by the Haryana Police in September 2018, which also named former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DLF Ltd. 

The allegations include cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. 

The ED had registered its money laundering case in December 2018.
According to the agency, SLHPL purchased 3.5 acres of land from Onkareshwar Properties for Rs 7.5 crore as per the sale deed, though the actual agreed consideration was Rs 15 crore. 

The payment mentioned in the deed - by cheque - was never encashed. 

The Enforcement Directorate claims this misrepresentation not only led to a stamp duty evasion of around Rs 45 lakh but also constituted a quid pro quo, with the land being transferred without genuine payment in exchange for Mr Vadra's alleged influence to secure a commercial licence for Onkareshwar Properties in the same village.

The agency has alleged serious irregularities in the grant of the commercial licence to SLHPL. 

While only 1.35 acres of the land met eligibility criteria - short of the two-acre minimum - officials from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning allegedly manipulated records by including land earmarked for a sector road. 

Statements from DTCP staff indicate they acted under pressure from higher authorities. The licence was granted unusually quickly, and the land was later sold to DLF for Rs 58 crore.

How The Money Was Routed

After investigation, the central agency said it found that Rs 5 crore from the deal was routed through M/s Blue Breeze Trading Pvt. Ltd., while Rs 53 crore went through SLHPL. The funds were allegedly used by Mr Vadra to acquire immovable properties, make investments, extend loans, and settle company liabilities.

The agency has provisionally attached 43 immovable properties worth ₹38.69 crore, including land in Bikaner, commercial units in Gurugram, Mohali, Noida, and residential flats in Ahmedabad. 

Some of the assets are held directly by Robert Vadra, while others are in the names of his companies M/s Sky Light Realty Pvt. Ltd., M/s Real Earth Estates Pvt. Ltd., and M/s Artex.