ED Files Chargesheet Against Robert Vadra in Money Laundering Case Linked to London Properties

Robert Vadra has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming he is being "hounded and harassed" by authorities.

New Delhi:

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against businessman Robert Vadra in a money laundering case linked to UK-based arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.

The chargesheet, submitted to Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court, targets Vadra, who is married to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The court will hear the matter on December 6.

In July, the agency questioned Vadra for five hours regarding two London properties at 19 Bryanston Square and Grosvenor Hill Court, 13 Bourdon Street. The ED alleges these properties, owned by Bhandari, are actually Vadra's benami assets.

According to ED sources who previously spoke with NDTV, Bhandari acquired the Bryanston Square property in 2009 with funds provided by Vadra. The agency claims the property was renovated according to Vadra's instructions, and he reportedly stayed there multiple times during London visits.

These London properties are among several being investigated by the ED as "proceeds of crime" under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The investigation also examines NRI businessman CC Thampi's role, who allegedly facilitated certain property transactions through a Dubai-based company.

Case Background

The investigation originated from a letter sent by the Income Tax Department to the ED on September 22, 2016. On February 9, 2017, another communication from the Income Tax Office in Jhandewalan alleged that arms dealer Bhandari had concealed foreign assets, including foreign bank accounts and London property.

On April 3, 2018, the department informed the ED it had received approval to prosecute Sanjay Bhandari under Section 51(1) of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015. This offense qualifies as a "Scheduled Offence" under the PMLA.

During their investigation, the Income Tax Department conducted raids on Bhandari's premises, where digital data recovered revealed crucial information.

Emails found in this data provided complete details of a property in Bryanston Square, London, valued at 1.9 million pounds (approximately Rs 22 crore). These communications mentioned Robert Vadra and his assistant Manoj Arora.

Investigating agencies claim these emails show Vadra was "beneficially controlling" the London property and responsible for its financing and renovation.

Vadra has consistently rejected these allegations, stating he is being "hounded and harassed."

Previous Charges

In July, the ED also filed a chargesheet against Vadra and 11 others regarding a Gurugram land deal case.

Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd, where Vadra was a director, purchased 3.5 acres in Gurugram, Haryana for Rs 7.5 crore in 2007 when Congress ruled the state with Bhupinder Hooda as chief minister.

Four years later, after obtaining permission to develop an apartment complex, the land was sold to real estate developer DLF for Rs 58 crore. When IAS officer Ashok Khemka flagged the deal, the BJP alleged corruption, claiming land was "stolen" from farmers to benefit Vadra.

The businessman has denied these allegations, as has Hooda, characterizing the proceedings as "nothing more than an extension of the political witchhunt by the present government."