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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The agency has filed a charge sheet naming Vadra as an accused in a money laundering case involving UK-based defense dealer Sanjay Bhandari. The charge sheet was filed in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court. According to sources, Vadra’s statement was recorded in July under the PMLA.
This is the second charge sheet filed against Robert Vadra in a money laundering case. Earlier in July, the ED filed a charge sheet against him in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in a land deal in Shikohpur, Haryana. The investigating agency has also questioned Vadra in a case involving Bhandari.
Bhandari has been declared a fugitive economic offender
Sanjay Bhandari was declared a fugitive economic offender by a Delhi court in July. He fled to London after the Income Tax Department raided his premises in Delhi in 2016. Subsequently, a request for his extradition was made, but the UK court rejected it.
Agency investigating Bhandari’s relationship with Vadra
In February 2017, the ED filed a criminal case against Sanjay Bhandari and others under the PMLA. This case was filed after taking cognizance of the Income Tax Department’s charge sheet filed against him under the 2015 Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The agency has already filed two charge sheets in his case. It is also investigating Bhandari’s relationship with Vadra regarding a house in London, which Vadra has denied that he owns any property there, directly or indirectly.
Ill-gotten ₹58 crore
In a money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate has revealed that Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman, received ₹58 crore as proceeds of crime in a tainted land deal in Gurugram. In the charge sheet filed against Vadra and others, the ED stated that ₹53 crore was routed through Sky Light Hospitality and ₹5 crore through Blue Breeze Trading.
During interrogation, Robert Vadra accused three deceased individuals of the scam. Robert Vadra’s statement was recorded twice in the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the Gurugram land deal. The first was on April 15 and the second was on April 16, 2025.
According to sources, during the interrogation, Vadra avoided answering many questions directly and placed the blame on three deceased individuals—HL Pahwa, Rajesh Khurana, and Mahesh Nagar. During questioning, Vadra told ED officials that these people worked for him, but when the ED asked for proof, he did not produce any documents.
How Vadra Used the Money
ED sources claim that Vadra illegally amassed approximately ₹58 crore through his companies—Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd and BBTPL—which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle and purchase real estate in his or his companies’ names.
The federal agency has stated that Robert Vadra allegedly used the proceeds of crime to acquire real estate, make investments, advances, and loans, and to settle the liabilities of various group companies.
The ED stated that its investigation resulted in the provisional attachment of 43 immovable properties, totaling ₹38.69 crore, which have been identified as direct or equivalent proceeds of crime.
Seeking a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and confiscation of properties for the accused under Section 4 of the PMLA, the ED said the properties identified as direct proceeds of crime include land in Bikaner, Rajasthan; units in Gurugram’s Good Earth City Centre; units in Mohali’s Bestech Business Tower; and residential units in Ahmedabad’s Jai Ambe Township.
Shikohpur Land Scam Case
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet in the court against Robert Vadra, Satyanand Yajee, Kewal Singh Virk, and several companies under the PMLA. The case relates to irregularities in the purchase and sale of land and the issuance of licenses in Shikohpur village, Gurugram, Haryana.
On September 1, 2018, Haryana Police registered an FIR at the Kherki Daula police station in Gurugram. It charges Robert Vadra, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, DLF Company, and Omkareshwar Properties Pvt Ltd, among others, with fraud, conspiracy, and corruption. Despite having very little capital, Skylight Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. (SLHPL) purchased 3.5 acres of land for only ₹7.50 crore (approximately $15 crore).
The sale deed falsely stated that the payment was made by check, which was never cashed. False information was provided to save stamp duty of approximately ₹45 lakh. It is alleged that this land was given to Omkareshwar Properties in exchange for Robert Vadra’s influence to obtain a housing license from the then Chief Minister. Later, a commercial license for the land was obtained through pressure and file manipulation, and it was sold to DLF for ₹58 crore (approximately $580 million).
The license application showed 3.53 acres of land, while only 1.35 acres were designated for commercial use. Rules were ignored by including the land on Sector Road. The licensing process was expedited under pressure from senior officials.
Evidence of changing dates and altering the map was found in the file. According to the ED, Robert Vadra made illegal gains of ₹58 crore from this deal. ₹5 crore was invested through Blue Breeze Trading Pvt. Ltd. and ₹53 crore through Skylight Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. This money was used to purchase properties, invest, and repay debts to his companies.
Seized Properties
The ED has provisionally seized 43 immovable properties worth ₹38.69 crore, including land, flats, and commercial units in Bikaner, Gurugram, Mohali, Ahmedabad, Noida, and Faridabad. The ED has added Section 423 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to several sections of the PMLA. If proven, the charges carry a sentence of 3 to 7 years and the illegal property can be confiscated.
Timeline
2006–2008: Land purchase, application for license, obtaining approval by providing false information.
2008–2012: Payment of crores from DLF, license issuance and renewal, and finally, the land is sold to DLF for ₹58 crore.
2013: Audit reveals irregularities in the entire process.
