The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday issued a second summons to Robert Vadra as part of its money-laundering investigation related to the Shikhopur land deal in Haryana.
00:00Big story breaking at this hour, the EDS summoned Robert Badra in the Shikhopur land deal case.
00:08It's the second summoned to Robert Badra earlier. He skipped summons on the 8th of April.
00:12The allegations against Robert Badra is that his Skylight Hospitality purchased a 3.5 acre land parcel at Shikhopur in Gurgaon from Om Karishwar.
00:24Properties in February 2008 for the cost of 7.5 crore rupees.
00:31Well, after obtaining a commercial license, Skylight Hospitality sold this property off to DLF for 58 crore rupees.
00:38The EDS is now suspecting that he laundered this money.
00:41That's the case against Robert Badra. That's the reason why he's been summoned by the enforcement directorate in the land deal case once again.
00:50EDS summons to Priyanka Gandhi's husband, Robert Badra.
00:55Priyanka Gandhi, the MP from Wainard and Gandhi's sign where he has been summoned.
01:02He had, in fact, skipped the first summons that was issued to him in the past.
01:07The enforcement directorate summoning Robert Badra in the Shikhopur land deal matter.
01:13The second summoned to Badra. Earlier, it skipped the summons on the 8th of April.
01:17The allegations against him is that Badra's Skylight Hospitality purchased a 3.5 acre land parcel at Shikhopur in Gurgaon from Om Karishwar properties in the year of 2008 for 7.5 crore rupees.
01:33Well, after obtaining a commercial license, Skylight Hospitality sold this property to DLF for 58 crore rupees.
01:46EDS suspects that Badra laundered this money.
01:49Well, that's the allegation against him and that's the reason why EDS has summoned Robert Badra once again.
01:57I'm going straight across to Amit for more details on that story.
02:03Amit, take us to what is expected given the summons because he's been named in the probe case in the ED charge sheet as well.
02:10Well, Seha, you know, this is in connection with another ED case.
02:17Robert Badra has been summoned by the enforcement directorate in the Shikhopur land deal case.
02:22And this is the second summon that has been issued by the enforcement directorate.
02:27The first one was on date, April, with Robert Shikhopur.
02:33What is important to note out here is that Robert Badra's Skylight Hospitality had purchased their claims that the company had purchased
02:416.5 acres of land in Gurgaon, Shikhopur, you know, at worth of 7.5 crore rupees back in 2008.
02:51And what it is also being claimed viewed as of now is that this particular land parcel was sold at 58 crore rupees.
03:02So, agencies are probing actually money laundering aspects in this particular case.
03:07And that is why, you know, the second summon has been issued to Robert Badra.
03:13And remember, the first one that was issued was on 8th of April, which apparently Robert Badra had skipped.
03:20Back to you.
03:23Give us a sense of what has Robert Badra said so far in this entire matter.
03:27Amit.
03:29Well, Sneha, you know, if you look at the details or the allegations which are there,
03:34it was Robert Badra's company which we are being told that had purchased the land parcel back in 2008.
03:41And this land parcel was later on sold to the DLF properties.
03:45So, the agency is looking at the angle of money laundering, whether this land parcel was purchased at a lower rate and sold at a much higher rate.
03:55So, is there a possibility of money laundering aspect in this particular case that we looked at?
04:00And that is why Mr. Badra has been summoned by the agency.
04:05And this is the second summon which has been issued to Robert Badra.
04:08Back to you.
04:10To Robert Badra, of course, as far as this matter is concerned, given the proximity to the Gandhi family and to the Congress,
04:16the expectation is that the Congress would obviously say this is a conspiracy against the Gandhi pariwaar,
04:23against the Badras as well, isn't it?
04:26Amit.
04:27Yes, Sneha.
04:28You know, we have seen that even in the past cases where Biswata was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate
04:35and you would very specifically remember the kind of summons that were being sent out ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
04:42Back then, the Congress Party had completely backed, or rather the Congress Party's workers were the ones who were actually speaking about political vendetta
04:51and political conspiracy against the Gandhi pariwaar.
04:55But this time around, we'll have to see, because there are no elections around the corner right now.
05:00Only one that is supposed to be happening in 2025 is the Bihar Assembly elections, which is far off.
05:07So whether a similar kind of protest could be organized by the Congress Party workers or somebody,
05:13the Congress leadership could enter the fray to defend Robert Badra, that is to be seen,
05:17but certainly in the past that you're also mentioning.
05:19And specifically in that particular timing of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, we had seen as to how the Congress workers and several leaders
05:27had aggressively decided to defend Robert Badra and called out the investigations by the agencies as political conspiracy.
05:35You know, this is a case of suspicion, Amit, of money laundering.
05:39Talk to us about what are the specifics or what the ED thinks is the wrongdoing here.
05:43Well, Sleha, you know, if you look at the charges or the allegations or the probe angle,
05:51what is to be seen out here is that the land parcel which was purchased at 7.5 crore,
06:01when it was sold to the DLF, the amount of the sale price increased to 58 crore rupees.
06:11So, is there a money laundering case here?
06:15Was it, you know, underpriced when Mr. Badra's company bought that land parcel?
06:21All these angles will be also looked into by the investigating agency and that is precisely possibly the angle
06:28on which Robert Badra could be questioned in this particular case.
06:32He with us, Amit, in fact, Munish is also getting in more details.
06:36Munish tracking the enforcement, Redfield and other agencies for us.
06:39This is an ongoing matter.
06:41Munish, talk to us about what is the possible wrongdoing here
06:44because the court and the part had also said, in the past, I beg your pardon,
06:48the Ghariana, in fact, had said, in fact, that there is no wrongdoing
06:52in this particular DLF land deal with Skylight Hospitality.
06:56So, what is it that the ED is suspecting now, Munish?
07:02Well, Sneha, ED is suspecting it is nothing but money laundering.
07:06Remember, according to the allegations, Robert Badra's Skylight Hospitality bought the land,
07:113.5 acre of land in Shikopur of Gurugram, for merely 7.5 crore in 2008.
07:18But later, the same land was sold to DLF for 58 crore rupees.
07:23So, ED suspects that this is nothing but money laundering.
07:26More than 45 crores was laundered by Robert Badra's Skylight Hospitality.
07:32And that is why, you know, the enforcement director has called Robert Badra
07:37to appear today before their headquarters in the national capital.
07:42Earlier, he was called by the ED on 8th of April,
07:44but he asked ED for more times and today he has been called again.
07:49So far, ED sources have told India today that Robert Badra will be appearing today in some time.
07:56Now, as far as, you know, the allegations are concerned,
07:58remember, in this case, Sneha, the first FIRO was registered by...
08:03Let's come back to you in a moment from now, Munish, for more details on that story.
