Shikohpur Land Deal: Court Grants ED Three Weeks to File Unrelied Documents
Delhi's Rouse Avenue court grants the ED three weeks to file unrelied documents in the Shikohpur land deal money laundering case involving Robert Vadra.
In a significant development in the Gurugram Shikohpur land deal money laundering case, Delhi's Rouse Avenue court has granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) an additional three weeks to submit the list of unrelied documents. These documents were filed alongside the charge sheet in the high-profile case where Robert Vadra has been named as an accused.
Special Judge (CBI) Shivali Bansal presided over the proceedings on Saturday, during which Robert Vadra appeared via video conferencing. The court has now scheduled the next hearing for December 10.
The Legal Proceedings and Appearances
The court session saw a mix of physical and virtual appearances. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Naveen Kumar Matta and advocate Mohd. Faizan were present in the courtroom, while senior advocate Zoheb Hossain represented the ED through video conferencing.
The ED had previously requested more time to provide the list of unrelied documents, citing that the investigation was still ongoing. Additionally, the agency has submitted a translation certificate for a land deed that was originally written in Gujarati.
The Investigation into DLF's Role
A central point of the current proceedings is the role of the real estate giant DLF. The ED has filed multiple status reports—one on July 10 and another on August 21—indicating that the investigation into DLF's involvement in the Shikohpur land deal is still underway and requires further time for completion.
The Core Allegations Against Robert Vadra
Robert Vadra, who was granted bail on May 16, faces serious allegations under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED's claims include:
- Control and Benefit: The ED alleges that Vadra, as the primary director/partner and major shareholder (up to 99%) of the accused firms, including Artex, played an active role in the commission of these offences.
- Fraudulent Deeds: It is alleged that a fraudulent sale deed was executed with a false declaration of consideration, making Vadra the primary beneficiary of the proceeds of crime.
- Proceeds of Crime: The agency claims that approximately Rs. 58 crores in Proceeds of Crime (PoC) were generated through a joint venture agreement with DLF, which was then routed through entities belonging to Vadra.
The Origins of the Case
The ED's investigation, which began on December 21, 2018, stems from a police FIR registered on September 1, 2018, at the Kherki Daula Police Station in Gurugram, Haryana. That FIR named Robert Vadra, former Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, DLF Company, and M/s Onkareshwar Properties Pvt. Ltd. (OPPL), among others.
The Alleged Quid Pro Quo
According to the FIR, an accused firm purchased 3.5 acres of land in Village Shikohpur, Sector-83, Gurugram, from M/s OPPL for Rs. 7.5 crores. However, the ED alleges that this was a fraudulent sale deed and no actual payment was made at the time of registration.
The investigation suggests that M/s OPPL provided the land as a bribe to M/s SLHPL. The purpose of this alleged bribe was to ensure that Robert Vadra could secure a housing license in the same village through the influence of the then Minister of Town and Country Planning, Bhupinder Singh Hooda. It is further alleged that the accused firm obtained a license to develop a commercial colony on the land in violation of existing rules and regulations by leveraging Vadra's personal influence.