Robert Vadra Withdraws Delhi High Court Plea in Gurugram Land Deal Money Laundering Case

New Delhi, May 2026 : Businessman Robert Vadra on Monday withdrew his petition before the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order that had taken cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint in a money laundering case linked to a 2008 land deal in Gurugram’s Shikohpur village.

The petition was withdrawn before a single-judge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain after Vadra’s counsel informed the court that the petitioner no longer wished to pursue the matter.

“At the outset, Mr Prateek K. Chadha, counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioners are not interested in pursuing the petition and seek to withdraw it,” Justice Jain observed while allowing the withdrawal. The court disposed of the matter while keeping all rights and legal contentions of both sides open.

The development came shortly after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) strongly opposed Vadra’s plea and questioned the legal basis of the petition. During the earlier hearing, ED counsel Zoheb Hossain had argued that the petition contained “false and incorrect” submissions relating to the interpretation of law and challenged the maintainability of the plea itself.

Last week, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Vadra, had argued before the High Court that the ED lacked the legal jurisdiction to initiate proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the alleged transaction.

According to Vadra’s legal team, the predicate offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act cited by the ED were not classified as “scheduled offences” under the PMLA during the period between 2008 and 2012 when the alleged land transaction took place.

The ED, however, strongly disputed this argument. The federal anti-money laundering agency contended that offences including Section 467 of the IPC had been part of the PMLA schedule since the law came into force. The agency alleged that Vadra’s petition was based on an incorrect interpretation of legal provisions and described the submissions as “complete false statements on law”.

After hearing preliminary arguments from both sides during the previous hearing, the Delhi High Court had refused to grant any interim relief to Vadra and had listed the matter for further consideration on May 18.

Meanwhile, proceedings in the trial court continued separately. A Special PMLA Court at Rouse Avenue recently granted bail to Vadra after he appeared before the court in compliance with summons issued following the court’s cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint.

Special Judge Sushant Changotra granted bail to Vadra on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 along with one surety of the same amount. The court has now listed the matter for arguments on framing of charges on July 10.

The case relates to alleged irregularities in a land transaction involving 3.53 acres in Haryana’s Shikohpur village in Gurugram district.

According to the ED, Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, purchased the land in February 2008 for Rs 7.50 crore from Omkareshwar Properties Private Limited. The agency has alleged that no actual payment was made for the transaction and claimed that the sale deed contained false declarations, including mention of a cheque that was allegedly never issued or encashed.

The ED has further alleged that the land was deliberately undervalued to evade payment of proper stamp duty and that the proceeds of crime were routed through multiple entities allegedly linked to Vadra.

As part of the probe, the agency has identified approximately Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime and has provisionally attached 43 immovable properties worth Rs 38.69 crore linked to Vadra and associated entities.

Earlier, on April 15, the Special Court at Rouse Avenue had taken cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint and issued summons to Vadra and eight others connected to the case.

Team Maverick.