Robert Vadra questioned in money laundering case, claims political targeting
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Robert Vadra, the businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over six hours in connection with a money laundering case linked to a 2008 land deal in Haryana.
The questioning took place on Tuesday at the ED’s Delhi office, where Vadra appeared after being summoned for the second time. He left the premises after 6 pm and has been called back for further questioning on Wednesday.
The case centers around a land transaction that took place in 2007, when Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd, a company Vadra was a director of, purchased 3.5 acres of land in Gurugram for Rs 7.5 crore from Onkareshwar Properties. The land was later sold to real estate giant DLF in 2011 for Rs 58 crore, after receiving approval for the development of an apartment complex.
The deal was flagged by IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who raised concerns over potential corruption, alleging that the land had been "stolen" from farmers and handed over to Vadra.
Vadra has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the deal was legitimate. He also criticised the BJP, accusing them of using the central investigative agencies to target him for political reasons.
In an interaction with the media, Vadra claimed that the case was nearly 20 years old, and questioned why it was being revisited now. "Whenever I speak out on issues concerning the people or the minorities, or even hint at entering politics, they start misusing investigative agencies," he alleged, dismissing the case as part of a "political vendetta."
Vadra’s comments came amid a larger controversy, as his in-laws, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, were also named in a chargesheet related to the National Herald money laundering case. Despite the ongoing investigation, Vadra expressed his willingness to cooperate and answer any questions, although he emphasized the need for the case to come to a conclusion. He also noted the considerable amount of time and effort he had already invested in responding to the probe, including submitting thousands of documents.