Businessman Robert Vadra has moved the Delhi High Court to challenge a trial court order that summoned him in connection with a money laundering investigation involving a land deal in Shikohpur, Haryana. The petition is scheduled for a hearing this Thursday before Justice Manoj Jain.
The legal move follows a decision by a trial court on April 15 to take cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Special Judge Sushant Changotra previously ruled that a “prima facie broader scrutiny” of the evidence provided sufficient grounds to proceed against the $57$-year-old businessman and eight other accused individuals. Vadra had been ordered to appear before the trial court on May 16.
The case centers on a $2008$ land transaction in the Manesar-Shikohpur area (now Sector 83) of Gurugram. According to the ED’s findings, the company Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd—where Vadra previously served as a director—purchased $3.5$ acres of land from Onkareshwar Properties for $₹7.5$ crore.
At the time of the purchase, Haryana was under the administration of the Congress party, led by then-Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Four years later, in September $2012$, the company sold the same parcel of land to the real estate major DLF for $₹58$ crore.
The deal first drew significant public attention in October $2012$ when IAS officer Ashok Khemka, acting as the director general of land consolidation, cancelled the mutation of the property. Khemka categorized the transaction as a violation of the state’s consolidation act and associated administrative procedures.
The charge sheet, which was filed by the ED last July, marks the first time a central probe agency has officially charged Vadra in a criminal case. The filing followed an intensive investigation that included three consecutive days of questioning in April $2025$.
In his ruling, Judge Changotra noted that the offences fall under Section $3$ (money laundering) read with Section $70$ (offences by companies) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Alongside Vadra, the court issued summonses to several entities and individuals, including:
- Kewal Singh Virk
- Skylight Hospitality LLP (formerly Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd)
- Sky Light Realty Private Limited
- Real Earth Estates LLP
- Blue Breeze Trading LLP
Vadra has consistently denied all allegations of financial impropriety. He has characterized the ongoing legal proceedings as a “political vendetta” aimed at targeting him and his family members, including former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the current Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
The High Court’s decision on Thursday will determine whether the trial court’s summons will stand as the May $16$ appearance date approaches.
