In a fresh development that revives a long-standing political and legal controversy, a Delhi court on Saturday issued formal notices to businessman Robert Vadra and ten others in connection with the alleged money laundering and irregularities in the Shikohpur land deal case.
The case, which has political and corporate ramifications, involves the purchase and resale of 3.53 acres of prime land in Shikohpur village, Gurugram. The Rouse Avenue Court, taking cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) charge sheet, directed all the accused, including Vadra — husband of senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra — to appear for the next hearing scheduled on August 28.
According to the ED, Vadra and his company, M/s Sky Light Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., allegedly acquired the land in 2008 from M/s Onkareshwar Properties Pvt. Ltd. for ₹7.5 crore through a dubious declaration. The same land was later sold to DLF Ltd. in 2012 for a significantly higher value of ₹58 crore, raising suspicions of criminal intent, fraud, and money laundering.
The agency claims that the proceeds of crime from the deal were laundered through a web of shell companies and benami transactions, with Vadra allegedly at the center of the financial manipulation. As part of the investigation, the ED has provisionally attached 43 assets worth ₹37.64 crore, reportedly linked to Vadra and entities associated with him.
The genesis of the case dates back to a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Gurugram Police in 2008, but it gained nationwide attention in 2012 after senior bureaucrat Ashok Khemka, then serving in Haryana’s Land Department, cancelled the land mutation citing “serious irregularities.” Khemka’s decision, while lauded by many as a bold administrative move, became a lightning rod for political debate, drawing both praise and accusations of vendetta.
This latest legal move against Vadra could re-ignite political tensions, especially with the 2026 Lok Sabha elections drawing closer. The Congress party has not issued an official response yet, but party insiders suggest it may term the action as “politically motivated” in the current climate of heightened scrutiny of opposition figures.
Vadra has consistently denied any wrongdoing, alleging that the investigation is a form of targeted harassment. His legal team is expected to present a detailed argument in court on August 28, defending the transaction as legitimate and commercially sound.
