Entrepreneur Robert Vadra. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
A Delhi court on Saturday (May 16, 2026) granted anticipatory bail to businessman Robert Vadra in a money laundering case related to a Shikohpur land deal being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Sushant Changotra of the Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Mr Vadra on ₹50,000.
Mr. Vadra appeared before the court after summons were issued to him and eight others after the court took cognizance of the ED’s impeachment complaint. The case stems from a first information report (FIR) registered by the Gurugram police in 2008 about alleged irregularities in a land transaction involving 3.53 acres in Shikohpur village, Sector 83, Gurugram, Haryana.
According to the allegations, Mr. Vadra through his company M/s Sky Light Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., acquired the land from M/s Onkareshwar Properties Pvt. Ltd. for ₹7.5 crore. Investigators alleged that the acquisition involved false statements and that the business license for the property was obtained through government influence.
The transaction took place during the Congress-led government in Haryana led by then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. In 2012, Sky Light Hospitality sold the land to real estate firm DLF for ₹58 million.
The deal attracted wider attention after senior IAS officer and whistleblower Ashok Khemka, who retired earlier this year, reversed the mutation linked to the transaction in 2012 when he was acting as Director General of Land Consolidation and Land Records—along with Inspector General of Registration, Haryana. Mr. Khemka described the transaction as a violation of the provisions of the State Consolidation Act and related procedures.
ED officials said an interim attachment order was issued on July 16, 2025 under which 43 properties worth ₹ 37.64 crore were linked to Mr. Vadra and associated entities including M/s Sky Light Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., were attached.
Mr Vadra has consistently denied wrongdoing and described the case as an example of “political vendetta” aimed at him and his family.
The ED had earlier filed a chargesheet in the case without arresting Mr. Vadra.
Appearing virtually during the proceedings, ED lawyer Zoheb Hossain informed the court that the agency was submitting a status report and asked for another two weeks to record another report after further investigation. He further informed the court that the accused contested the decision to take the case into consideration.
The case was posted for further hearing on July 10.
Published – 16 May 2026 21:23 IST
