ED Files Chargesheet Against Robert Vadra in UK Defence Dealer Money Laundering Case

New Delhi, Nov 2025 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against businessman Robert Vadra, son-in-law of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to UK-based defence dealer Sanjay Bhandari.

The prosecution complaint has been submitted before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Officials confirmed that Vadra’s statement under PMLA was recorded earlier in July.

According to the ED, Vadra is suspected of having connections with a series of overseas financial transactions and immovable properties associated with Sanjay Bhandari, who is already under investigation for undisclosed foreign assets. Bhandari left India in 2016 and has since been declared a fugitive economic offender by a Delhi court.

The money laundering probe originated from income-tax searches conducted at Bhandari’s premises in 2016. During these raids, authorities reportedly recovered emails and documents suggesting financial links between Bhandari, Vadra, and individuals close to him. The ED claims that these findings laid the foundation for its detailed investigation into alleged offshore dealings and property purchases.

Over the years, the ED has provisionally attached several properties in India that are believed to be linked to Vadra or entities associated with him. According to the agency, these assets represent proceeds of crime generated through Bhandari’s international transactions.

In a related submission before a Special Court, the ED stated that Vadra allegedly received ₹58 crore as proceeds of crime from a controversial land deal in Gurugram. Of this, ₹53 crore was funneled through Sky Light Hospitality, while another ₹5 crore reportedly moved through Blue Breeze Trading. Investigators allege that Vadra used these funds to purchase immovable assets, invest in various ventures, extend loans, and clear liabilities of companies connected to him.

As part of the ongoing probe, the agency has provisionally attached 43 immovable properties valued at ₹38.69 crore. These properties are alleged to be either directly linked to the proceeds of crime or are of equivalent value. The attached assets include parcels of land in Bikaner, Rajasthan; commercial units in Good Earth City Centre, Gurugram; office units in Bestech Business Tower, Mohali; and residential flats in Jay Ambe Township, Ahmedabad.

The ED’s chargesheet adds another chapter to the long-running investigation involving Vadra and Bhandari, marking a significant step toward prosecution in the high-profile case.