ED terms Robert Vadra’s Shikohpur land deal a textbook example of money laundering. Court to decide on issuing notice by July 31.
New Delhi: Today, on July 24, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has termed the money laundering case involving businessman Robert Vadra as a “clear and classic case of money laundering” during a hearing at a Delhi court. The case is related to alleged irregularities in a land deal in Shikohpur village, Haryana.
The matter came up before Special Judge Sushant Chagotra, who was hearing the ED’s initial submissions seeking the court’s permission to issue notice to Vadra.
After hearing both sides, the judge stated,
“Arguments of ld. Special Counsel and ld. Special PP for ED on the point of proviso to section 223 (1) of BNSS heard at length. Now, be put up for clarifications/order on 31.07.2025. (sic)”
As per Section 223(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), a magistrate cannot take cognisance of an offence based on a private complaint without giving prior notice to the accused.
The proviso clearly mentions that
“no cognisance of an offence shall be taken by the magistrate without giving the accused an opportunity of being heard”.
On July 17, the ED had officially filed a chargesheet naming Robert Vadra in the case. The investigating agency asserted in court,
“It is a clear and classic case of money laundering. Proceeds of crime were used to acquire immovable properties. Evidence conclusively establishes that there is the offence of money laundering where proceeds of crime are generated, layered, and enjoyed.”
The ED was represented by special counsel Zoheb Hosain, special public prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta, and advocate Mohammad Faizan.
During the hearing, Zoheb Hosain informed the court that since a part of the alleged illegal financial activity occurred in Delhi, the court had the necessary jurisdiction to try the matter.
Hosain said,
“The court had jurisdiction to try the matter as part of the activity related to the proceeds of crime took place in the national capital,”
The ED counsel further claimed that Skylight Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., a company in which Robert Vadra owns 99 percent shares, had bought 3 acres of land worth several crores in Haryana.
Alleging forgery in the sale documents, Hosain stated,
“There were false declarations in the sale deed that Rs 7.5 crore had been paid when no money was paid. It was paid later to avoid stamp duty.”
He added that the same land was later sold to real estate giant DLF at a much higher price.
The court has now scheduled the matter for clarifications and its final decision on issuing the notice to Vadra and others on July 31, 2025.
The ED chargesheet names 11 accused entities including Vadra, Skylight Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., Satyanand Yajee, Kewal Singh Virk, and their firm Onkareshwar Properties Pvt. Ltd., among others.
This case of money laundering originates from an FIR registered by the Gurugram Police in September 2018. The FIR alleged that Vadra, through Skylight Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., fraudulently purchased 3.53 acres of land in Sector 83 of Gurugram’s Shikohpur village from Onkareshwar Properties Pvt. Ltd. on February 12, 2008.
The sale was made through a “false” declaration that the land was bought for Rs 7.5 crore.
At the time of this transaction, the Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda was in power in Haryana. Later in September 2012, Skylight sold the land to DLF for Rs 58 crore — a substantial gain that led to widespread scrutiny.
The controversy intensified in October 2012 when Ashok Khemka, an IAS officer who was then serving as Director General of Land Consolidation and Land Records-cum-Inspector General of Registration in Haryana, cancelled the mutation of the land deal.
He called the transaction illegal and said it violated the state’s land consolidation laws and procedures.
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