Businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi on Tuesday for questioning in a money laundering case linked to a controversial land deal in Haryana’s Gurugram.
The summons come a day after Vadra hinted at joining active politics, stating he would consider entering the field if the Congress party and his family supported the move.
The case pertains to a 2008 land transaction where Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd, bought 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur village for ₹7.5 crore. It’s alleged that the land’s mutation was completed unusually fast – in just 25 hours. The ED is probing whether the deal involved illicit financial transactions, based on a 2018 FIR by Haryana Police.
Speaking to the media outside the ED office, Vadra reiterated that the investigation is politically motivated. “I’ve been summoned 15 times over the last 20 years. Every time I express interest in joining politics, old cases are brought back to attack me,” he said.
He further added, “This is a BJP vendetta. I’ve provided over 23,000 documents. There is nothing in the case. People love me and want me in politics.”
ED sources said this is Vadra’s first direct summons in this particular case, although he has previously been questioned in multiple investigations, including one involving fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and British national Sumit Chadha.
The probe had also flagged links to land transactions involving NRI businessman CC Thampi, alleging connections to Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi through intermediaries.
The Congress has dismissed the ED actions as a diversionary tactic aimed at silencing critics and preventing opposition figures from entering the political fray ahead of upcoming elections.
Vadra concluded his statement with hope for a resolution: “I hope there’s a conclusion today. I’m cooperating fully. But let the people see through the timing of all this.”
