Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, is once again in the headlines. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned him for questioning in connection with the Sikohpur land deal in Haryana. The case involves not only financial transactions but also several key figures from the Indian bureaucracy and judiciary.
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi's husband and Wayanad MP Robert Vadra on Tuesday. This questioning pertained to a controversial land deal undertaken in 2008 by his company, Skylight Hospitality, reportedly involving ₹7.5 crore (approximately US$900,000). This land deal has been subject to numerous questions since its inception. The deal, situated in Gurugram, Haryana, allegedly violated Change of Land Use (CLU) regulations.
The case has repeatedly involved the names of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who recommended the deal's cancellation, and Justice S.N. Dhingra.
The Sikohpur Land Deal: What is it?
In 2008, Robert Vadra's company, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, purchased 3.5 acres of land in Sikohpur, Haryana, from Omkareshwar Properties for ₹7.5 crore. Within months, this land was sold to a major real estate brand, DLF, for approximately ₹58 crore, resulting in a profit of around ₹50 crore for the company. Questions arose regarding the swift acquisition of the commercial license and the rapid generation of such significant profit within just four months.
When Ashok Khemka Raised Questions
IAS officer Ashok Khemka, then head of the Haryana Land Registration Department, canceled the deal's mutation process, deeming it irregular. However, he was transferred within hours of this decision. Before his transfer, Khemka submitted a detailed report to the government, raising serious questions about the deal's transparency.
Questions Raised Against Bhupinder Hooda
At the time of the deal in 2008, Haryana was governed by a Congress government led by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He was accused of facilitating the swift issuance of a commercial license to Vadra's company. However, an IAS panel constituted by the Hooda government in 2013 gave a clean chit to both Vadra and DLF.
Justice Dhingra Commission Formed by the BJP Government
Following the BJP's ascension to power in 2014, a commission headed by retired Justice S.N. Dhingra was formed to reinvestigate the matter. The commission submitted a confidential report to the state government, the contents of which were not made public. Hooda challenged the commission's formation in the High Court.
Robert Vadra stated that the ED's recent action is politically motivated. He claimed the government fears him because he speaks for the people and is preparing to become active in politics. He added that he has been questioned 20 times before, providing 23,000 documents, yet new inquiries continue.
Investigation Under PMLA and Connections to Other Cases
This case is registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Investigations are also ongoing into two other land deals involving Vadra in Rajasthan and other locations. Furthermore, there is speculation linking Vadra to the National Herald money laundering case, in which members of the Gandhi family are also accused.
