No relief for Robert Vadra: Delhi HC declines to stay summons in money laundering case
New Delhi, May 14: The Delhi High Court has refused to stay the trial court’s order issuing summons to businessman Robert Vadra as an accused in the money laundering case. The bench of Justice Manoj Jain has ordered a hearing on May 18 for Robert Vadra to clarify some questions.
During the hearing on Thursday, lawyer Zoheb Hussain, appearing on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said that Vadra has made false arguments in the petition challenging the trial court’s order. Following Hussain’s information, the court ordered Vadra to clarify on the matter. The High Court, while refusing to stay the summons issued against Vadra, ordered him to appear before the trial court on May 16.
On April 15, the Rouse Avenue Court ordered the summoning of Robert Vadra as an accused in the money laundering case. The court also ordered the issuance of summons to Satyanand Yajee, Kewal Singh Virk, M/s Sky Light Hospitality Private Limited, M/s Sky Light Realty Private Limited, M/s Sky Light Real Earth Estates Private Limited, M/s Blue Breeze Trading Private Limited, M/s Artex, M/s North India IT Parks Private Limited, M/s Lambodar Ard Enterprises India Private Limited, and M/s SGY Properties Private Limited.
The Rouse Avenue Court took cognizance of the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and ordered the issuance of summons to all the accused. The court took cognizance of charges against all the accused under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The court reserved its verdict on April 4. During the hearing, Robert Vadra stated that no case of money laundering was made out against him. The lawyer representing Robert Vadra argued that the court should not take cognizance of the charge sheet filed by the ED.
The court issued summons to all the accused, including Vadra, on August 2, 2025. On July 17, 2025, the ED filed a charge sheet against Robert Vadra in a money laundering case related to the Shikohpur land in Haryana. It names Vadra and 10 others, including his company, M/s Sky Light Hospitality Private Limited. The ED has seized 43 properties belonging to Robert Vadra and his company worth ₹37.64 crore (US$3.76 billion) in connection with the money laundering case.
This case began in 2008. A land deal was struck in Shikohpur, Gurugram. Sky Light Hospitality purchased three and a half acres of land for a mere ₹7.5 crore (US$1.75 million). Vadra was a director in this company, and the land was purchased from Omkareshwar Properties. The ownership of this land was transferred to Vadra’s company within just 24 hours. Sky Light Hospitality sold the same land to DLF in 2012 for ₹58 crore, resulting in substantial profits for the company. An FIR was filed in this matter in 2018.
