Delhi court grants bail to Robert Vadra
The Rouse Avenue Court granted relief after Vadra appeared in compliance with court summons
A Delhi court on Saturday granted pre-arrest bail to Robert Vadra in a money laundering case linked to a controversial land deal in Haryana’s Gurugram district.
The Rouse Avenue Court granted relief to Vadra after he appeared before the court in compliance with summons issued in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
As per the court order, Vadra was granted bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 along with one surety of the same amount.
The matter has now been posted for further hearing on July 10.
Case linked to Gurugram land deal
The money laundering case pertains to alleged irregularities in a 2008 land transaction involving 3.53 acres of land in Shikohpur village in Gurugram, Haryana.
The Enforcement Directorate has accused Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, of generating proceeds of crime through the land deal.
According to the agency, the land was purchased in February 2008 from Omkareshwar Properties Private Limited for Rs 7.50 crore.
However, the ED has alleged that no actual payment was made for the transaction and claimed the sale deed included false declarations regarding cheque payments that were allegedly never issued or encashed.
ED alleges undervaluation and money laundering
The federal agency further alleged that the land was undervalued, leading to stamp duty evasion, and claimed that the proceeds of crime were later routed through multiple entities allegedly linked to Vadra.
In its prosecution complaint, the ED identified Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime in the case.
The agency has also provisionally attached 43 immovable properties worth Rs 38.69 crore linked to Vadra and associated entities.
Delhi High Court hearing pending
Earlier, the Rouse Avenue Court had issued summons to Vadra and eight others after taking cognisance of the ED’s complaint.
Meanwhile, Vadra also approached the Delhi High Court challenging the trial court’s order taking cognisance of the ED case.
During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Vadra, argued that some offences mentioned in the predicate case were added to the PMLA schedule after the alleged offence period.
Opposing the plea, ED counsel Zoheb Hossain argued that Vadra had made false statements in his petition and sought dismissal of the plea with costs.
After hearing both sides, the Delhi High Court adjourned the matter for further hearing on May 18.
Robert Vadra is the husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
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