ED names Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in money laundering case linked to businessman CC Thampi

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has, in a noteworthy move, charged Congresswoman Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the first time in the ongoing money laundering investigation involving NRI businessman CC Thampi. In past charge papers pertaining to the same case, the ED had mentioned her husband, Robert Vadra.

According to the ED, the probe discloses that “Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra bought land in Haryana through a Delhi-based real estate agent who also sold land to NRI businessman CC Thampi.”

The ED further claims that Vadra and Thampi had very personal and deep relationship that included common and business interests.  Sanjay Bhandari, a fugitive arms trader, is being investigated for money laundering, breaking foreign currency regulations, and breaking the Official Secrets Act. In 2016, Bhandari went to the United Kingdom, allegedly assisted by Thampi and British national Sumit Chadha.

The most recent chargesheet, submitted in November, claims that real estate broker HL Pahwa, who represented Thampi and Vadra in the sale of properties, took funds off the books for the acquisition of the land in Haryana. According to the ED, Vadra failed to pay the entire amount due for the sale, and Pahwa conducted business with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as well.

The ED was informed by Thampi, who was detained in January 2020, that he had known Vadra for more than ten years and that they had met multiple times when Vadra travelled to Delhi and the United Arab Emirates. According to the ED, Thampi purchased 486 acres of land in Faridabad, Haryana, between 2005 and 2008 by using Pahwa’s services.

The ED chargesheet further added, “The investigation revealed that CC Thampi is a close associate of Robert Vadra. Vadra, who not only renovated the property at 12 Bryanston Square, London, through Sumit Chadha but also stayed in the same. Further, Vadra as well as CC Thampi, purchased a huge piece of land at Faridabad and had financial transactions with each other”.

The charge sheet states: “It is necessary to note that Robert Vadra also bought three pieces of land in Amipur from [the same] HL Pahwa in 2005 and 2006, and sold the same land to Pahwa in December 2010.” Additionally, near the village of Amipur, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra’s wife, bought 40 kanals (5 acres) of agricultural land from Pahwa in April 2006 then sold it to Pahwa in February 2010.

The ED contends that Sanjay Bhandari acquired a London property in December 2009, renovated it with funds from Robert Vadra, and states that Vadra stayed there three to four times. The investigation continues to unfold, shedding light on intricate financial transactions and relationships involving prominent political figures.