New Delhi, May 18: Robert Vadra has withdrawn his petition in the Delhi High Court challenging a lower court’s order that acknowledged a complaint from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This case pertains to a money laundering investigation linked to a land deal in Shikohpur village, Gurugram, from 2008.
Justice Manoj Jain of the single-judge bench granted permission for the withdrawal after Vadra’s lawyer informed the court that the petitioner was “not interested in pursuing the current petition” and wished to withdraw it unconditionally.
Justice Jain noted, “Initially, the petitioner’s lawyer, Prateek K. Chadha, indicated that the petitioner does not wish to proceed with the petition and wants to withdraw it.” He concluded the matter while keeping the rights and arguments of all parties open.
This development occurred after the ED strongly opposed Vadra’s petition, claiming it contained “false and misleading legal assertions.” During the previous hearing, ED lawyer Zoheb Hussain raised objections regarding the petition’s admissibility, alleging it included “entirely incorrect statements regarding the law.”
Last week, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Vadra, argued that the ED lacked the authority to initiate action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) since the alleged offenses under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act were not “scheduled offenses” at the time of the transactions between 2008 and 2012.
The ED countered this argument, asserting it was legally incorrect and claimed the petition contained “entirely incorrect statements regarding the law.”
The Delhi High Court had previously denied immediate relief after an initial hearing and adjourned the case for further proceedings until May 18.
Meanwhile, the special PMLA court at Rouse Avenue granted Vadra bail when he appeared in court in compliance with the ED’s summons. Special Judge Sushant Chhangotra granted bail on a personal bond of ₹50,000 and a surety of the same amount, with the next hearing scheduled for July 10.
This case involves alleged irregularities in a transaction involving 3.53 acres of land in Shikohpur village, Haryana. According to the ED, Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, purchased the land from Omkareshwar Properties Private Limited for ₹7.5 crore in February 2008.
The agency alleges that no actual payment was made and that the sale documents contained false details, including a check that was never issued or encashed. The ED also claims that the land’s value was understated to evade stamp duty and that the proceeds of crime were laundered through multiple companies.
The agency has identified approximately ₹58 crore as “proceeds of crime” and temporarily seized 43 properties linked to Vadra, valued at ₹38.69 crore. On April 15, the special court at Rouse Avenue acknowledged the ED’s charge sheet and summoned Robert Vadra along with eight others.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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