The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, in a case related to alleged money laundering in land transactions.
ED: Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, is once again on the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED has filed a charge sheet in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Vadra in connection with an alleged money laundering case related to a land deal. Simultaneously, 43 immovable properties worth approximately ₹37.64 crore belonging to Vadra's company, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, have also been attached.
This case pertains to the Manesar-Shikohpur land deal in Haryana, in which Vadra and other accused face serious allegations of irregularities and money laundering. The question arises: what is the root of this case, what are the allegations leveled by the ED against Vadra, and what legal action can be taken further? Let's explore in detail.
What is the complete case related to Robert Vadra?
This dispute began with the purchase and sale of land in the Manesar-Shikohpur area of Haryana. It is alleged that Vadra's company purchased land from Onkareshwar Properties and had its mutation done in just one day, whereas it usually takes up to three months. The very next day, the land was transferred in the name of Vadra's company.
Following this, the then Bhupinder Singh Hooda government of Haryana granted Vadra's company a license to develop this land as a commercial colony. As soon as this license was obtained, the value of the land increased manifold. In the year 2008, the company associated with Vadra sold the same land to real estate giant DLF for ₹58 crore. It is alleged that the price of the land was increased by up to 773 percent in just a few months, resulting in huge profits. Later, the Hooda government also transferred the license for the residential project to DLF.
How was the case revealed?
This case came to light when IAS officer Ashok Khemka (now retired) was serving as the Inspector General of the Land Registration Department in Haryana. He initiated an investigation into the deals associated with Vadra. After the investigation, Khemka cancelled the mutation of the land on October 15, 2012. Subsequently, the dispute deepened, and Khemka was transferred.
The Hooda government accused Khemka of 'acting beyond his authority' and gave a clean chit to Vadra. Later, after the BJP government came to power, the case gained momentum again.
Case reopened in the BJP government
After the BJP government came to power in 2014, the Manohar Lal Khattar government constituted a commission headed by a retired judge to investigate this deal. In August 2016, the commission submitted a 182-page report, but it was not made public. The Hooda government challenged the formation of the commission in the Punjab-Haryana High Court and assured that the report would not be made public.
In 2018, the Haryana Police registered a case in this matter, which also included the names of Vadra and Hooda. On September 1, 2018, the ED took over this case and initiated an investigation into money laundering.
What is the ED's allegation?
The ED alleges that Robert Vadra earned profits by buying and selling land on the basis of forged documents and false declarations. The ED says that this is a classic case of money laundering, in which black money was converted into white money through property deals. Apart from Vadra's company, Skylight Hospitality, the ED has also accused 11 other people. In the charge sheet filed in the court, assets worth ₹37.64 crore have been described as 'proceeds of crime'.
Section 5 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is applied behind the attachment of Vadra's properties by the Enforcement Directorate. Under this, the ED can temporarily attach the property of any suspect that is considered to be acquired from crime. The validity of this attachment order is up to 180 days.
During this period, confirmation is obtained from the Adjudicating Authority appointed by the ED. If the authority considers it correct, the property will remain attached, otherwise it will be released automatically. Note that the ownership of the property does not go to the ED, only the possession remains. If the accused is found guilty, the court can order the confiscation of his property.
What will happen next?
Now that the ED has filed the charge sheet, the court will begin the process of framing charges after examining and verifying the documents. After this, Robert Vadra will have to appear regularly in court. If the court believes that there is substance in the ED's allegations, the trial will proceed. If Vadra is found guilty, there is a provision for confiscation of property as well as a severe punishment. On the other hand, both Vadra and Hooda have described the allegations as a political conspiracy.
After this charge sheet, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, attacked the central government. He said that Robert Vadra is being deliberately harassed. But in the end, truth will prevail.
