Seven-year prison term requested in land deal case for Robert Vadra in Gurugram by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
News Article: Enforcement Directorate Seeks Seven Years Imprisonment for Robert Vadra in Gurugram Land Deal Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering complaint against Robert Vadra, alleging illegal earnings of Rs 58 crore through under-valuing and fraudulent transactions related to a 3.5-acre land plot in Shikohpur, Gurugram. The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi has issued a notice to Vadra and others, with the next hearing scheduled for August 28, 2025 [1][2][4][5].
The case revolves around Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd (SLHPL), which purchased the land in 2008 at Rs 7.5 crore from Omkareshwar Properties Pvt Ltd (OPPL), allegedly without any actual payment at the time of the sale deed registration, and with the sale deed undervaluing the land [2][5]. The then Haryana Congress government under Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is accused of granting a commercial colony license to SLHPL rapidly, which significantly increased the land's market value [4][5].
In 2012, Vadra’s company sold the land to real estate firm DLF for Rs 58 crore, a huge gain that the ED contends were proceeds of crime obtained through corrupt means involving Vadra’s political connections [3][4][5]. The ED alleges that Vadra laundered these illicit gains into multiple assets, investments, loan advances, and clearing liabilities of his associated companies. Several individuals associated with Vadra and multiple companies linked to him have been named as accused [1][3].
The ED alleges that a false statement of consideration was made in the land deal, with the buyer never issuing a cheque to the seller. The ED also claims that a loss of Rs 44 lakh was caused to the Haryana government in stamp duty due to the undervaluation of the land in the land deal. The undervaluation of the land in the land deal directly led to the evasion of stamp duty [1][3].
The ED's prosecution complaint seeks to punish the accused persons under Section 4 (Punishment for money laundering), with a potential imprisonment of three to seven years and confiscation by the government of the properties earned by the accused as proceeds of crime. The ED has requested the court to allow the government to seize 43 immovable properties allegedly bought by Vadra and his associates using proceeds of crime [1][3].
The offence of money laundering in the case was committed at various places/states including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Most of the bank accounts of the entities associated with Robert Vadra, identified as accused number 1, are situated in Delhi and used by him in Delhi to acquire assets or to satisfy the liabilities of companies registered in Delhi [1].
The FIR in the Gurugram land deal case was initially filed by the Gurugram Police [2]. The ED's investigation led to the provisional attachment of 43 immovable properties, totalling Rs 38.69 crore, identified as direct or value equivalent to Proceeds of Crime. The total value of the 43 immovable properties sought to be confiscated is Rs 38.69 crore [1][3].
The ED has asked a special PMLA court in Delhi to sentence Robert Vadra and others to seven years in prison in the 2008 Gurugram land deal case. The ED continues to seek a maximum of seven years imprisonment for Vadra and others under Section 4 (Punishment for money laundering) and suggests penal or criminal action for the fraudulent execution of the deed, as stated earlier [1][3]. The current status of the case is that the special PMLA court in Delhi has set August 28 to take cognisance of the ED complaint.
- Politics and general-news: The then Haryana Congress government under Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is accused of rapid granting of a commercial colony license to Vadra’s company, which significantly increased the land's market value, raising questions about political connections and the proper use of power.
- Crime-and-justice and general-news: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked a special PMLA court in Delhi to sentence Robert Vadra and others to seven years in prison in the 2008 Gurugram land deal case, emphasizing the importance of accountability for alleged crimes involving the profit from corrupt means and money laundering.
