The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a supplementary chargesheet filed in an alleged money laundering case also involving her husband Robert Vadra.
The chargesheet revolves around the purchase and subsequent sale of land parcels in Haryana’s Faridabad by the couple back in 2010. It also examines links between Vadra’s controversial land deals and the activities of fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
As per the ED, Priyanka purchased 5 acres of agricultural land in Faridabad worth several crores from one HL Pahwa in 2006 and then resold the same land to him four years later in 2010.
Interestingly, Pahwa is also the same agent from whom Robert Vadra had bought 40 acres of land in the same Faridabad village during 2005-06 and sold it back to him just months after Priyanka re-acquired the 5-acre plot from Pahwa.
The ED claims Pahwa was receiving large cash payments illegally meant for land purchases. He had also sold land parcels to NRI businessman CC Thampi, named in the past for aiding money laundering by Bhandari and fugitive dealer Sumit Chadha.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in its charge sheet mentioning her role in purchasing agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (five acres) in Haryana's Faridabad from a Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006 and selling the same… pic.twitter.com/L5zU9XbkKy
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023
Previously, Robert Vadra was directly accused by the ED of being involved with Bhandari to channel kickbacks and accumulate overseas assets worth GB£ 1.9 million. Now Priyanka finds herself embroiled in a case allegedly involving sham land transactions routed to sanitize funds.
The latest chargesheet against a top Congress leader is bound to intensify the ongoing political slugfest between the BJP and Congress over misuse of agencies. It comes amidst accusations of the Delhi liquor scam against AAP leaders. The timing and motivation behind such high-profile investigations will undoubtedly be debated heatedly.
