New Delhi, April 15 (NationPress) In a significant twist for businessman Robert Vadra, a court in the capital has summoned him along with eight additional individuals after acknowledging a prosecution complaint submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a money laundering case tied to a 2008 land transaction in Gurugram’s Shikohpur village.

The Special Court located at Rouse Avenue has mandated that Vadra, who is married to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and is also the son-in-law of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, along with the other defendants, appear before the court on May 16.

Previously, on April 4, the court had withheld its decision on whether to take cognizance after listening to extensive arguments from both the ED and the defense regarding the prosecution complaint filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

During the proceedings, Vadra’s attorney contended that there was no evidence of money laundering against him and requested the court to dismiss the ED's charge sheet.

The federal anti-money laundering agency has accused Vadra of deriving illicit profits from a deceptive land deal involving 3.53 acres in Haryana’s Shikohpur village.

Furthermore, the ED claims that these illicit proceeds were funneled through various companies allegedly controlled by Vadra.

Earlier, the court had served notice to Vadra and the others in accordance with Section 223(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which requires that a potential accused be given a chance to be heard before cognizance is taken.

“Notice should be issued to all proposed accused individuals listed in the complaint for a hearing on the matter of taking cognizance,” stated the order issued by Special Judge (PC Act) Sushant Changotra.

According to the ED, Vadra's firm, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, despite its limited financial resources, acquired 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur in February 2008 for Rs 7.50 crore from Omkareshwar Properties Private Limited.

The investigative agency alleges that no genuine payment was executed and that the sale deed included fraudulent declarations, such as a reference to a cheque that was never issued or cashed.

The ED asserts that the land was undervalued in the sale deed, resulting in stamp duty evasion, which constitutes an offense under Section 423 of the Indian Penal Code.

In its complaint, the ED has identified Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime and has provisionally seized 43 immovable properties valued at Rs 38.69 crore, which are said to be directly or equivalently linked to the proceeds of crime. These properties are allegedly owned by Vadra, his proprietary business Artex, Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, and other related entities.

The investigative agency is seeking a maximum sentence of seven years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 4 of the PMLA, alongside the confiscation of the seized properties.

In October 2012, senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka annulled the Shikohpur land transaction, citing procedural irregularities. Although a government panel later exonerated Vadra and DLF, the Haryana Police filed an FIR after the BJP-led government assumed control in the state.