The Enforcement Directorate has temporarily concluded its questioning of businessman Robert Vadra in connection with the Gurgaon land transaction case.
Over the span of 3 days, Vadra was interrogated for nearly 16 hours. While this round of questioning ended on Thursday, officials confirmed that the broader investigation remains active.
According to agency sources, further witnesses will be summoned and additional material evidence collected in the coming weeks. There’s also a strong likelihood that Vadra will be called in again if cross-examinations or new findings necessitate his presence.
“The questioning of Robert Vadra is over in only one case. Other witnesses are yet to be examined, and evidence to be collected. There’s still a long way to go,” an official familiar with the probe said.
Multiple Investigations Underway
Vadra is currently under scrutiny in three separate money laundering cases. Aside from the Gurgaon land matter—where he reportedly bought land for ₹7.5 crore and resold it for ₹58 crore within months—the ED is investigating his alleged links to arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and a controversial land acquisition in Rajasthan’s Bikaner.
In the Bhandari-linked case, the agency alleges that proceeds from defence contracts were funneled through shell companies and used to buy high-end properties in London and Dubai. Vadra has been linked to some of these overseas assets. The ED has already tracked ₹150 crore in alleged kickbacks and confiscated assets worth over ₹26 crore from Bhandari in India.
In the Bikaner matter, Vadra’s firm, Skylight Hospitality, is accused of buying 275 bighas of land, meant for resettling displaced persons, for ₹72 lakh and later selling it for ₹5.2 crore using forged documents.
More Charge Sheets Expected
The ED is in the process of compiling prosecution complaints in all three cases. Officials have indicated that formal charges will be filed only after the necessary evidence and statements from key individuals are in place. Once filed, these complaints will trigger legal proceedings across all three matters.
Separate Chargesheet Filed Against Sonia, Rahul Gandhi
Amid Vadra’s questioning, the ED also filed a chargesheet in the National Herald case, naming his mother-in-law, Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. They are accused of acquiring assets worth ₹5,000 crore through Young Indian, a company in which they jointly owned a 76% stake. The remaining shares were held by the late Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes.
The ED alleges that assets originally held by Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) were improperly transferred to Young Indian, while both Gandhis were serving as Congress presidents until 2022.
Vadra, along with businessman CC Thampi and Priyanka Gandhi, is also being examined in connection with the purchase of 531 acres of land in Faridabad from realtor HL Pahwa between 2005 & 2008. The land was eventually sold back to Pahwa and later transferred to entities tied to real estate giant DLF.
A court acknowledged the chargesheet in this case in December 2023, although Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi were not formally listed as accused.
A separate 12-acre land transaction in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, involving Vadra and Thampi, is also under investigation.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
