Top News

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint against businessman Robert Vadra in a high-profile money-laundering case linked to UK-based defence dealer Sanjay Bhandari, reviving a years-long investigation into alleged foreign assets, offshore dealings and illicit financial links. The chargesheet has been submitted before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, marking a significant escalation in the probe. Officials said Vadra’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was recorded in July this year, with the agency accusing him of having connections to overseas properties and financial transactions associated with Bhandari, who already faces charges for holding undisclosed assets abroad.

Origins Of The Case

The ED’s investigation stems from a series of income-tax raids conducted on Sanjay Bhandari in 2016. These searches allegedly unearthed emails and documents indicating links between Bhandari, Vadra and individuals close to both men. Among the material recovered were references to the renovation of a London property believed to be owned by Bhandari. Investigators claim the property was refurbished according to Vadra’s instructions and executed through intermediaries said to be connected to him.

Over the years, this alleged London property trail has remained central to the case, with the agency asserting it forms part of a broader pattern of overseas acquisitions and financial transactions routed through complex networks.

Haryana Land Deals & ‘Proceeds Of Crime’ Allegation

Alongside the London property angle, the ED has examined a number of land transactions in Haryana involving Vadra, Bhandari and associates linked to both. Investigators allege these deals were part of a larger network through which funds were circulated and assets amassed.

Bhandari, who left India in 2016, has since been declared a fugitive economic offender by a Delhi court. The agency previously attached several properties in India allegedly linked to Vadra or entities associated with him, claiming these assets represent proceeds of crime generated through Bhandari’s offshore activities.

Vadra has repeatedly denied all charges, calling the investigation politically motivated. He has asserted that he does not own any property in London and has questioned the ED’s interpretation of the documents recovered during the probe.