Robert Vadra Claims 'Witch-Hunt' After ED Names Him Accused In Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday filed a fresh chargesheet against businessman Robert Vadra in connection with a money-laundering case. Hours after the chargesheet was filed, Vadra claimed that

the agency doesn’t have any evidence or statements against him.

Calling it a “witch-hunt”, Vadra said that it’s only a misuse of the agencies, and the investigations cannot prove anything against him.

“As soon as I speak on joining politics or say anything against the BJP, this is the reaction that I have to deal with… the ED has no evidence and in all years or interrogations, 30,000 documents, and hypothecated evidence or other statements, the investigations could not prove any wrongdoing by me. It’s a simple misuse of the agencies and a complete Witch-Hunt,” said Vadra.

Chargesheet Filed Against Robert Vadra

The chargesheet has been filed in a money-laundering case linked to UK-based defence dealer Sanjay Bhandari. This is the first time Vadra has been listed as an accused in this matter.

He is the ninth accused in the case. The chargesheet also names Sanjay Bhandari, Sumit Chhadha, Sanjeev Kapoor, Anirudh Wadhwa, Santech International FZC, Offset India Solutions FZC, Shamlan Gros-1 Inc, and Cheruvathur Chakkutty Thampi. The court will take up the chargesheet on December 6.

The ED filed its complaint in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court after recording Vadra’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in July. He was called twice last month for questioning but asked for a delay—first citing illness and later due to foreign travel approved by a local court.

Vadra, who is married to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, is already being investigated in two other money-laundering cases related to alleged land deal irregularities in Haryana and Rajasthan. In April, he was questioned for three days over a 2008 Haryana land deal. Another case concerns suspected financial irregularities in a land deal in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

About The Case

The charges stem from ED findings detailed in a 2023 chargesheet. The agency alleges that Sanjay Bhandari bought a property at 12, Bryanston Square in London in 2009 and had it renovated “as per the directions of Vadra and the funds for renovation were provided by Robert Vadra.”

According to the ED, Bhandari’s firm, Santech FZE purchased the property from a private company, which was taken over by Thampi’s Dubai-based firm Sky Light. The property later changed hands again and was allegedly linked to Vadra.