Businessman Robert Vadra faced a setback in the Delhi High Court regarding a money laundering case linked to a 2008 land deal in Gurugram. The court was considering Vadra’s challenge against a lower court order that had taken cognisance of an Enforcement Directorate complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Vadra, argued about the retrospective application of certain laws in the case.
During the hearing, the ED counsel countered Vadra’s arguments, claiming that false statements were made in his petition. The matter was adjourned for further hearing on May 18 after both sides presented their arguments. The Rouse Avenue Court had earlier issued summons to Vadra and eight others based on the ED’s prosecution complaint.
The ED has alleged that Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, acquired land in Haryana in 2008 at an undervalued rate. The agency claims that the land deal involved false declarations and evasion of stamp duty. The prosecution complaint by the ED seeks a maximum punishment of seven years’ rigorous imprisonment under the PMLA.
