ED Issues Summons to Robert Vadra in Money Laundering Case Linked to Arms Dealer
New Delhi | June 10, 2025 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to businessman Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in connection with an ongoing money laundering probe involving fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
The summons come amid a broader investigation into Sanjay Bhandari, who fled India in 2016 and is currently contesting extradition proceedings from the United Kingdom. ED officials confirmed that Vadra has been called for questioning related to illegal overseas assets, money laundering operations, and land transactions that allegedly yielded disproportionate profits.
Who is Sanjay Bhandari?
Sanjay Bhandari, a controversial arms dealer, is facing multiple charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) Act, and the Official Secrets Act. According to ED sources, Bhandari maintained undisclosed foreign assets, laundered kickbacks through a web of shell companies, and shared connections with several high-profile Indian figures — including Robert Vadra.
The ED believes Bhandari helped facilitate illicit foreign property transactions, which may have included London-based real estate linked to Vadra. Investigators are also probing whether Bhandari and Vadra shared business interests via offshore firms and suspicious financial transfers.
The Haryana Land Deal at the Heart of the Controversy
A significant part of the probe surrounds a land deal in Haryana, executed by Vadra’s company Skylight Hospitality. In 2008, Skylight purchased a plot for ₹7.5 crore. After obtaining a land use permit from the state government — then under Congress rule — the land’s value soared. By 2012, the property was sold to real estate giant DLF for ₹58 crore, raising eyebrows over the sudden spike in valuation.
The BJP has alleged that the deal was tainted by political favoritism, with claims that the Congress-led government in Haryana helped Vadra profit by converting agricultural land for commercial use. Then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had denied the charges, stating, “The Congress did not give even an inch of government land to Robert Vadra. If the BJP shows proof, I will leave politics.”
Despite Hooda’s defence, the ED has included the transaction as part of its broader money laundering case, suggesting that illicit gains from such deals could have been moved through Bhandari-linked channels.
Political Fallout and Congress Reaction
The fresh ED summons comes at a politically sensitive time for the Indian National Congress, which has often accused the ruling BJP of engaging in “vendetta politics” through investigative agencies. Congress spokespersons have previously dismissed the probe as “character assassination by trial through media.”
However, with the ED tightening its net and the United Kingdom’s courts examining Bhandari’s extradition, the case is gaining renewed momentum and international attention.
Legal and International Ramifications
Robert Vadra has denied all allegations, maintaining that his business activities were above board. His legal team is expected to challenge the summons on procedural grounds. Meanwhile, Bhandari’s extradition case in UK courts has seen India provide diplomatic assurances about jail conditions and due process to secure his return.
Sources within the ED suggest that the new developments may also prompt closer scrutiny of UPA-era defence deals, particularly those involving offset contracts and land procurement.