Vadra Slams ED Summons as 'Witch Hunt' in Haryana Land Deal Probe

 New Delhi, April 15, 2025 – Businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has been summoned for the second time by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe linked to a land deal in Haryana’s Shikohpur village. Vadra, who skipped the first summons on April 8, labeled the investigation a “political vendetta” and a “witch hunt” as he made his way to the ED office on Tuesday, alleging attempts to suppress his voice.

The case centers on allegations surrounding Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality, which purchased approximately 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur, Gurugram, from Omkareshwar Properties for Rs 7.5 crore in February 2008. Later that year, after obtaining a commercial license, Skylight sold the land to real estate giant DLF for Rs 58 crore, raising suspicions of financial irregularities. The ED is investigating whether the transaction involved money laundering, focusing on the profit trail and alleged advance payments or interest-free loans from DLF to Skylight.

Speaking to reporters en route to the ED headquarters, Vadra claimed the summons were timed to silence him. “Whenever I speak up for people and make them heard, they try to suppress me. I have nothing to hide. They can ask me whatever they want, and I’ll answer,” he said. He further stated that over the past two decades, he has faced repeated interrogations, submitting over 23,000 documents and enduring hours of questioning without any conclusive findings against him. “There is nothing in the case,” Vadra asserted, expressing hope for a resolution.

The investigation stems from a 2018 First Information Report (FIR) filed in Gurugram against Vadra, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and others, following a complaint by Nuh resident Surinder Sharma alleging irregularities in land deals. The FIR included charges under sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, as well as provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. While the Haryana government in 2023 informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Skylight Hospitality’s land transfer to DLF violated no rules, the ED continues to probe the financial transactions involved.

Vadra has consistently denied wrongdoing, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting him for political reasons. “For years, false accusations have been leveled against me. Agencies have raided my companies, attached properties, and issued countless notices, yet found no evidence,” he wrote in a 2023 social media post, referencing similar investigations. The Congress party and Hooda have also dismissed the allegations as baseless.

The ED is expected to record Vadra’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to ascertain the source and flow of funds in the deal. Sources indicate the agency is examining whether Skylight Hospitality’s transactions with DLF involved illicit gains or preferential treatment, particularly during the Congress-led government in Haryana.

The summons have reignited political tensions, with the Congress alleging misuse of central agencies to target opposition figures. BJP leaders, however, have defended the probe, pointing to the need for transparency in high-profile financial dealings. As the investigation unfolds, all eyes remain on Vadra’s appearance before the ED and the potential implications for Haryana’s political landscape ahead of future elections.

This is a developing story. Further updates will follow as more details emerge.