Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi named in ED's charge sheet in PMLA case

In an unprecedented move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in its charge sheet, citing her involvement in the acquisition of a 40 kanal (five-acre) agricultural land in Haryana’s Faridabad from a Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006.

Subsequently, she allegedly sold the same land back to Pahwa in February 2010.

The ED claims that the property in question is located in Amipur village in Faridabad and was purchased from Pahwa, the same agent who, in earlier transactions, had dealings with Priyanka’s husband, Robert Vadra. Vadra reportedly acquired three parcels of land totaling 334 kanals (40.08 acres) in Amipur village between 2005 and 2006, subsequently selling the land back to Pahwa in December 2010.

Notably, Pahwa is also identified as the individual who sold land to NRI businessman CC Thampi. The broader investigation involves fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who is facing scrutiny from various agencies for alleged money laundering, violations of foreign exchange and black money laws, and breaches of the Official Secrets Act. Bhandari fled to the UK in 2016.

Thampi stands accused of aiding Bhandari in concealing the proceeds of criminal activities, alongside Sumit Chadha, a British national.

ED has named Robert Vadra in its earlier charge sheet related to the case as an alleged close aide of Thampi.

In the fresh charge-sheet, it is mentioned that Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the purpose of acquisition of land. “It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire sale consideration to Pahwa.”

The ED investigation in this regard is still ongoing. However, the copy of “the ledger accounts in the books of Pahwa reflecting the above mentioned transactions were taken on record vide letter dated November 17, 2023.”

“It is submitted that Robert Vadra incorporated entities with the names of Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd and Sky Light Realty Pvt Ltd in India on November 1, 2007 and November 16, 2007 respectively. The same have been downloaded from the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Whereas, an entity nemed Sky Lite Investment FZE in UAE was incorporated on April 1, 2009 with CC Thampi as its sole shareholder,” mentions the charge-sheet.

“During the course of investigation of Thampi and his Indian entities in the case bearing no. T-3/219/HQ/2015 being investigation under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) it has been found that Thampi purchased land 486 actes (approx.) from 2005 to 2008 in village Amipur in Haryana’s Faridabad district through one HL Pahwa, Delhi NCR based real estate agent.”

It is also mentioned in the charge-sheet that Robert Vadra incorporated an entity in India with the name Blve Breeze Trading Pvt Ltd on November 1, 2007 which was later converted into LLP.

“The email ID of the said entity has always remained as [email protected] ic. when it was a Private Limited entity and later when it got converted into an LLP. The incorporation documents of the said entities were downloaded from the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It is the same email id on which one Beena, employes of CC Thampi in Dubai used to communicate in connection with the property 12 Bryanston Square, London,” mentions the charge-sheet.

“During the course of investigation in another PMLA case (bearing fo. ECIR/OG/HIU2018) being investigated against Robert Vadra, his entity Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, and others, it has been found that one Mahesh Nagar, resident of Delhi NCR, represented various entities of Robert Vadre at the time of purchase and sale of various pieces of land in Delhi-NCR and Bikaner, Rajasthan,” it pointed.

In a statement, the ED on Tuesday, had also mentioned Robert Vadra in connection with the purchase of a property in London that is part of the probe.

Detailing the association between Vadra and Thampi, the charge sheet states, “During the course of investigation in this case, it is found that a long and thick relationship exists between CC Thampi and Robert Vadra. Not only a personal/cordial bond but common and similar business interests are also found between them.”

Thampi, arrested in January 2020, ostensibly told ED that he knew Vadra for over 10 years and that they met several times during Vadra’s visits to the UAE as well as in Delhi.

With inputs from agencies