New Delhi: Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, gave “evasive” replies during questioning in connection with a 2008 “fraudulent” land deal in Shikohpur village of Haryana’s Gurugram, and placed the “entire onus” on his three deceased associates, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged in its chargesheet.

The agency also claimed that Vadra exerted “undue influence” on Haryana government officials through former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the alleged money laundering-linked real estate transaction.

The 332-page chargesheet was filed on 17 July before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi.

₹58 crore in ‘proceeds of crime’

According to the ED, Vadra, 56, received ₹58 crore as “proceeds of crime” from the land deal.

On 2 August, Special Judge (PC Act) at Rouse Avenue Courts, Sushant Changotra, issued a notice to all 11 accused named in the ED chargesheet before taking cognisance of the prosecution complaint, listing the matter for 28 August. The judge also directed that a copy of the chargesheet be shared with the accused.

Vadra has been named as accused number one, along with seven companies linked to him and two directors of SGY Properties (formerly Omkareshwar Properties) – Satyanand Yajee and Kewal Singh Virk.

There was no immediate comment from Vadra’s legal team on the allegations.

The Shikohpur land purchase

The case relates to Vadra’s company Skylight Hospitality (SLHPL) purchasing a 3.5-acre plot in Shikohpur village, Sector 83, Gurugram, from Omkareshwar Properties (OPPL) for ₹7.5 crore in 2008.

The ED took cognisance of a September 2018 Gurugram police FIR to file a money laundering case in December that year. The FIR alleged the land deal was a “bribe” to Vadra’s company to help OPPL secure a housing licence in the same village from then CM Hooda, who was also minister of town and country planning, by using Vadra’s personal influence as the son-in-law of then Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

“He (Vadra) entered into a dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration and thus acquired 3.5 acres of land,” the ED claimed.

Payment allegations

According to the ED, “Robert Vadra through his entity SLHPL has purchased 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur village without making the payment at the time of registration of sale deed, and declaring that full and final payment has been made.”

The agency alleged Vadra issued a cheque of ₹7.50 crore from another entity, Sky Light Realty (SLRPL), “to misrepresent” facts in the sale deed. “This cheque was never encashed and no payment was ever made by SLRPL at the time of execution of sale deed,” the ED’s probe found.

It claimed Vadra created structures to “launder” the proceeds of crime generated from criminal activities. The buyer, SLHPL, did not pay the stamp duty, which was instead paid by the seller, OPPL.

‘Undue influence’ alleged

The ED said the FIR’s claim that Vadra had undue influence through then CM Hooda “was evident from the fact that the financial capacity to build a colony in the absence of any financial details and documents were accepted by the officials of DTCP (department of town and country planning) at entry level for the only reason that Robert Vadra was the director of this company.

“Moreover, the processing of file on the day of its submission by every official in DTCP in a single day and approving by the then CM of Haryana within five days clearly indicates the influence of Robert Vadra, where the government has to take such decision which have a cascading effect on the planning of the cities of Haryana,” the ED stated.

Sale to DLF and fund transfers

The agency alleged Vadra acquired “proceeds of crime” worth ₹58 crore when the land was sold to DLF for that amount. This was carried out by entering into a joint venture with DLF Retails Ltd on the basis of a Letter of Intent (LoI) issued by DTCP for the 3.5-acre plot owned by SLHPL.

The ED alleged Vadra then transferred the illicit funds to various entities for purchasing movable and immovable assets, as well as making “conspicuous” expenditure.

Vadra’s defence

According to the chargesheet, Vadra gave “evasive” replies during questioning and “put all the onus on three deceased persons (his associates) named late H L Pahwa, late Rajesh Khurana and late Mahesh Nagar for acting on behalf of him”.

“However, no documentary evidences were provided by him to substantiate his claim,” the ED said.

In his statement, included in the chargesheet, Vadra told the ED: “These transactions took place in 2007-08 and I was a novice to real estate matters and dependent on my three associates (Khurana, Pahwa and Nagar), and whatever agreements were prepared were with their (three associates) understanding, experience and knowledge. I didn’t decide who should be representing or signing these documents, they were decided by late Rajesh Khurana.”

Vadra reiterated that the matters were 18 years old and that he does not “specifically remember” the land deal transactions.

(PTI inputs)