Supreme Court vs Unnamed Accused — Fraud Case Quashing

A real estate director accused in a money laundering case involving alleged diversion of funds collected from homebuyers sought bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted regular bail, holding that prolonged pre-trial incarceration can justify bail despite the rigorous conditions under Section 45 PMLA.

Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, is accused in a money laundering case related to an alleged fraudulent land transaction in Shikohpur village, Gurugram, Haryana in 2008. The Enforcement Directorate alleges he received Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime from the 3.53-acre land deal. A chargesheet has been filed, and a Delhi court has summoned Vadra and eight others to appear.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before Rouse Avenue Courts, Delhi, naming Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, alleging laundering of proceeds of crime derived from the alleged fraudulent takeover of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) properties worth over ₹2,000 crore by Young Indian Pvt. Ltd. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Courts declined to take cognizance of the complaint in December 2025, holding it was not maintainable, while permitting the ED to continue its probe. The ED has challenged this order before the Delhi High Court, which issued notice to the accused on 22 December 2025. All persons named remain accused and are presumed innocent unless a court judgment holds otherwise.