Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has alleged that the Indian government is trying to stop him from good work and raising his voice against what he believes is unfair treatment of minorities.
He made this statement after being grilled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a case involving a land deal in Gurugram.
Vadra felt irritated at being called by the ED in the middle of his "birthday week seva" (charity activity), when he had already planned to provide food to the elderly and gift to children. He told them that his work would be suspended for a few days because of the summons, but stressed that he would resume once he had finished responding to the "government's means of halting him." He made it abundantly clear that nothing would hinder him from fulfilling his obligations and that he was convinced of the truth, which he said would win.
The case being investigated involves a Gurugram, Haryana land transaction in 2008 when Vadra's firm, Skylight Hospitality, purchased a plot for Rs 7.5 crore. The value of the plot appreciated considerably after a permit was issued to construct a housing society, and Vadra subsequently sold it to realty major DLF for Rs 58 crore. The ED suspects that the transaction could have been for money laundering, and is investigating the financial trail of the profits earned.
Vadra has consistently refuted any wrong-doing, labeling the investigation a "political vendetta." He also cited that he had nothing to conceal and was willing to cooperate with the authorities. He gave his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during the course of the ongoing probe. The case has been attached to the rule of Bhupinder Singh Hooda as Haryana Chief Minister, during whose time the transactions were conducted.
In a previous statement, Vadra had also welcomed the arrest of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, stressing the need to return misappropriated funds and compensate for the PNB scam.
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