Robert Vadra Withdraws Plea In Delhi HC In Haryana Land Deal Case

Businessman Robert Vadra on Monday withdrew his petition in the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order that had summoned him in a money laundering case linked to a Haryana land deal in Shikohpur.

The withdrawal was recorded by Justice Manoj Jain, who noted that Vadra’s counsel, at the outset, submitted that the petitioner was “not interested in pursuing the present petition” and sought to withdraw it unconditionally . The court accordingly disposed of the matter while keeping all rights and contentions of the parties open.

Vadra’s counsel also informed the court that he would make “appropriate submissions” before the trial court at an appropriate stage, indicating that the defence will now primarily be pursued at the trial level rather than through a High Court challenge.

The case arises from a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July 2025 in connection with alleged money laundering linked to a land transaction in Gurugram. Following this, in April 2026, the trial court took cognisance of the chargesheet, found sufficient material for a prima facie case, and issued summons to Vadra and other accused persons, directing them to appear before it.

The ED had also questioned Vadra for three consecutive days in April 2025 as part of its investigation. Last week, it opposed his petition in the High Court, arguing that the legal grounds raised were incorrect and amounted to a “false legal submission”.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Vadra, had argued that the ED lacked jurisdiction under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He contended that the alleged predicate offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act were not scheduled offences at the relevant time, since the land deal occurred between 2008 and 2012, while the relevant offences were included in the PMLA schedule only in 2013 and 2018. The ED, however, rejected this argument and described it as legally incorrect.

The case relates to a 3.5-acre land parcel in Shikohpur (now Sector 83), Gurugram, purchased in February 2008 by Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd, where Vadra had earlier served as a director. The land was bought for ₹7.5 crore from Onkareshwar Properties and later sold in September 2012 to realty major DLF for ₹58 crore.

The transaction first came under scrutiny after IAS officer Ashok Khemka, then posted as Director General of Land Consolidation and Land Records-cum-Inspector General of Registration, cancelled the mutation in October 2012, citing violations of the state consolidation act and procedural irregularities.

At the time of the transaction, Haryana was governed by the Congress-led government headed by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Vadra has consistently denied wrongdoing and has described the case as a “political vendetta” targeting him and his family, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Besides Vadra, summons were also issued to several firms including Skylight Hospitality, Sky Light Realty, Real Earth Estates, Blue Breeze Trading and other co-accused entities in the ongoing probe.