Delhi Court to Hear ED Submissions Against Robert Vadra in Bhandari Money Laundering Case

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : A Delhi court is scheduled to hear on Saturday the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) submissions after the agency named businessman Robert Vadra, son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, as an accused in a money laundering case linked to UK-based defence dealer Sanjay Bhandari.

The central agency had last month filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before the Rouse Avenue Court, formally initiating criminal proceedings in the case. Officials said Vadra’s statement under the PMLA was recorded in July this year as part of the investigation.

According to the ED, Vadra is allegedly connected to overseas financial transactions and properties linked to Bhandari, who is already facing charges of holding undisclosed assets abroad. Bhandari fled India in 2016 and was later declared a fugitive economic offender by a Delhi court.

The case traces its origins to a series of Income Tax Department raids conducted on Bhandari in 2016. These searches reportedly led to the recovery of emails, financial records and documents that allegedly established links between Bhandari, Vadra and their associated entities. On the basis of these findings, the ED widened its probe to examine the flow of funds and ownership of overseas assets.

The ED has also informed the court in a connected matter that Vadra allegedly received ₹58 crore as proceeds of crime from a tainted land deal in Gurugram. The agency claimed that of this amount, ₹53 crore was routed through Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, a firm associated with Vadra, while the remaining ₹5 crore was allegedly channelled through Blue Breeze Trading.

According to the ED, these funds were used by Vadra to acquire immovable properties, make investments, extend loans and settle liabilities of his group companies. The agency maintains that the transactions were structured to conceal the origin and ownership of the funds.

As part of the probe, the ED has provisionally attached 43 immovable properties valued at ₹38.69 crore, which it identified as either direct proceeds of crime or assets of equivalent value. The attached properties include land parcels in Bikaner, Rajasthan; commercial units in Good Earth City Centre, Gurugram; office spaces in Bestech Business Tower, Mohali; and residential units in Jay Ambe Township, Ahmedabad.

The court is expected to examine the ED’s arguments on Saturday before taking further steps in the matter. The case has drawn significant political attention, with the Congress maintaining that the investigation is politically motivated, while the government insists that due legal process is being followed.