For the first time, the Enforcement Directorate has named Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the chargesheet over the alleged purchase and sale of five acres of land in Haryana. Gandhi’s husband and businessman Robert Vadra is also reportedly named in the probe agency’s chargesheet, but neither is listed as ‘accused’ in the case.
ED has filed the chargesheet against an NRI businessman CC Thampi and an Indian origin British national named Sumit Chadha.
The probe agency believes both Thampi and Chadha have helped fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari hide the proceeds of his crimes. Bhandari is accused of violating the Official Secrets Act, among other laws. He fled India for the UK in 2016.
ED’s chargesheet has reportedly mentioned Gandhi’s role in purchasing agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (five acres) in Haryana’s Faridabad from a Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006 and sold the same land to him in February 2010.
According to the ED, in Faridabad’s Amipur village, a house was also allegedly purchased from Pahwa in Gandhi’s name in April 2006 and sold back to him at the same time as the land.
Pahwa was earlier under scanner for allegedly selling 40.8 acres of land in Amipur to Robert Vadra between 2005 and 2006 and buying it all back from him in December 2010. Pahwa is the same person who also sold land to CC Thampi.
ED has also named Robert Vadra in its earlier charge sheet related to the case as an alleged close aide of Thampi.
What did ED’s Chargesheet say?
In the fresh chargesheet, it is mentioned that Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the acquisition of land. “It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire sale consideration to Pahwa,” the chargesheet said.
The ED investigation in this regard is still ongoing.
“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 has been downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Whereas, an entity named Sky Lite Investment FZE in UAE was incorporated on April 1, 2009, with CC Thampi as its sole shareholder,” mentions the chargesheet.
“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 the 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 the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It is the same email ID on which one Beena, employees 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 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.”
(With ANI Inputs)
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