Industrialist Robert Vadra was present on the third running day before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of a land deal case in Haryana. He had his wife accompanying him, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, who has continuously stood by his side during legal proceedings.
The case being probed pertains to a land deal acquired by a firm that had been associated with Vadra earlier, in 2008. The firm was said to have acquired land in the Gurugram area at a low price and then sold it at a much higher value. The deal came under scrutiny and raised eyebrows about the type of approvals granted and the amount of profits realized.
A prior administrative action had already flagged the sale as possibly illegitimate, forcing law enforcement to investigate further. The ED aims to establish whether or not money laundering or financial fraud was present in the deal.
Vadra has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he is a victim of selective persecution on political grounds. He asked in public why no such investigations have been initiated against people connected with the ruling dispensation, implying bias in investigation.
This follows in the wake of an increasingly charged political environment, with opposition leaders facing all manner of investigations. The current investigation into Vadra’s previous business transactions continues to attract national attention, especially considering his link to the Gandhi family and the broader implications such cases would have on political narratives in the lead-up to upcoming elections.
The ED has not yet released a public comment on any solid findings, but sources indicate the agency continues to review financial records and statements. As the case continues, only time will tell how the investigation will continue to unfold and how it could influence the political arena.
