A Familiar Face in a Familiar Fight
Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, once again found himself in the spotlight on Tuesday as he appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a land deal case in Haryana. The case—linked to alleged money laundering—has resurfaced ahead of election season, prompting Vadra to claim that the probe is part of a larger campaign of political targeting by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
This is far from Vadra’s first brush with investigative agencies. Over the years, he has faced multiple rounds of questioning and scrutiny over land deals in Rajasthan and Haryana. Yet, he maintains his innocence and insists the cases are driven more by politics than evidence. The situation raises a broader question: Is the case about accountability, or is it yet another chapter in India’s ongoing political turf war?
The Haryana Land Deal: What’s the Allegation?
The case in question revolves around a 2008 land deal in Shikohpur, Haryana. Vadra’s company, Skylight Hospitality, purchased land for ₹7.5 crore. Soon after acquiring the land, the company reportedly received permissions to develop a housing colony—leading to a sharp appreciation in land value. The land was then sold to real estate giant DLF for ₹58 crore, resulting in significant profits.
At the time, the Congress party was in power in Haryana under Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. This political backdrop has fueled the BJP’s accusations that the Congress misused its authority to facilitate land deals for Vadra’s benefit. The allegations suggest favoritism, irregular approvals, and the misuse of farmers’ land—charges that both Vadra and Hooda have repeatedly denied.
Vadra’s Defense: “Witch Hunt” and Political Targeting
Walking into the ED office in Delhi, Vadra made it clear he wasn’t backing down. “Nobody is evading anything. I have nothing to hide,” he told reporters. He described the summons as a politically motivated move, timed to silence dissenting voices within the opposition.
“Whenever I speak in favor of the country, I’m stopped. Rahul is stopped in Parliament. It’s all political vendetta,” Vadra claimed. He also linked the frequency of the ED summonses to his potential political ambitions. “Every time I express interest in joining politics, they dig up old issues to bring me down.”
Vadra’s supporters echoed this sentiment with chants like “Jab Modi darta hai, ED ko aage karta hai”, accusing the government of using investigative agencies as political weapons.
Is There Merit or Just Politics?
Vadra’s claim of political bias isn’t without precedent. Opposition leaders, from Congress to regional parties, have long accused the Modi government of using agencies like the ED and CBI to intimidate political rivals, especially during election season.
However, the government maintains it is committed to rooting out corruption, regardless of political affiliations. The ED has defended its actions as part of standard legal procedures, pointing out that Vadra has been summoned multiple times over the years and questioned for long durations—sometimes over ten hours per session. Over 23,000 documents have reportedly been reviewed as part of the investigation.
Still, the lack of a decisive legal conclusion, despite years of inquiry, fuels the suspicion that these probes may be more performative than prosecutorial.
Who’s Winning This Political-Legal Battle?
In this battle of narratives, Robert Vadra isn’t going away quietly, nor is the BJP likely to drop its pursuit. For now, the government retains the upper hand through its control of federal agencies, which gives it the tools to keep the pressure on. But Vadra is gaining public sympathy, especially among Congress loyalists who see the repeated ED actions as excessive and vindictive.
With elections nearing, this case could become more about perception than prosecution. If no substantive charges are filed soon, the government risks appearing more interested in headlines than justice. Conversely, if solid evidence emerges, it could damage the Congress’s credibility further.
Either way, Vadra’s battle is far from over—and in the court of public opinion, the verdict is still wide open.
(With inputs from agencies)
