Controversies that have hounded Priyanka's husband, Robert Vadra

Robert Vadra is in focus as the Enforcement Directorate questions him regarding money laundering and acquiring property illegally. India's son-in-law has been hounded by controversies over the years. Here's a look at some of them

The DLF land grab scam

This is related to the 50-acre land grab in 2013 in Amipur village of Haryana during the Congress' Bhupinder Singh Hooda government, for which Robert Vadra, Hooda and DLF are being investigated by the CBI. Vadra allegedly made illegal gains of over Rs 50 crore from this land deal within a few months in 2008. An FIR was filed against him and Hooda for alleged irregularities in land deals.

Bikaner land deal money laundering

In September 2015, the ED registered a money laundering case alleging that Robert Vadra-owned Sky Light Hospitality had acquired land in Kolayat, Bikaner, which was meant for rehabilitation of poor villagers. It was alleged that Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Vadra bought 69.55 hectares of land at a cheaper rate and sold to Allegenery Finlease for Rs 5.15 crore through illegal transactions. As per ED investigation, the buying company Allengenery had no real business and shareholders were also found to be fake.

2009 petroleum deal case under UPA era

According to Enforcement Directorate, Robert Vadra and his associates received 'Kickbacks' in the petroleum deal signed in 2009 during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. BJP alleged that Vadra benefited from petroleum and defence deal which took place under UPA government and used the money to buy posh properties worth several crore rupees in London. The money was allegedly transferred to Santech International, FZC, a company based in UAE and controlled. Santech then purchased the 12 Bryanstone Square mansion from Vortex, a private holding, and later Vortex shares were transferred to Skylight Investment, FZE, which is led by NRI businessman C Thampi.

What next for Vadra?
 
In the long grilling sessions before the Enforcement Directorate denied any direct or indirect link with the London properties. He refuted most of the allegations. Sources added most of the responses of Vadra appeared to be 'tutored'. Robert Vadra allegedly emailed Sanjay Bhandari's nephew Summit Chadha giving him clear instructions. Chadha had also sent multiple mails to Bhandari and Vadra over renovation of the Bryanston property in London. Sources claim interrogators were not satisfied with Vadra's answers. His appearance before the ED acquired political overtones after his wife Priyanka Gandhi, appointed Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Vadra is also expected to present himself before ED on February 12 in Jaipur in an unrelated money-laundering case related to a land scam in Bikaner.