'Witch-hunt, politically motivated slander': Rahul Gandhi backs Robert Vadra after ED chargesheet into land deal

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has come out in support of his brother-in-law Robert Vadra day after ED's chargesheet. (File: PTI)

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday stepped up in support of his brother-in-law Robert Vadra and termed the chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate against the latter the continuation of a "witch-hunt" by the ruling government at the Centre that has been underway for the last 10 years.

"My brother-in-law has been hounded by this government for the last ten years. This latest chargesheet is a continuation of that witch hunt," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

Rahul further said that he stands with Vadra, a businessman who has been married to Priyanka Gandhi, and his family, including his sister and children at this time.

My brother-in-law has been hounded by this government for the last ten years. This latest chargesheet is a continuation of that witch hunt.

I stand with Robert, Priyanka and their children as they face yet another onslaught of malicious, politically motivated slander and… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 18, 2025

"I stand with Robert, Priyanka and their children as they face yet another onslaught of malicious, politically motivated slander and harassment," he said, expressing confidence that they were all brave enough to withstand any kind of persecution and that they would continue to do so with dignity.

"The truth will eventually prevail," Rahul added.

On Thursday, the ED filed a chargesheet naming Vadra among several other individuals and companies in connection with the Shikohpur land case.

As per the chargesheet, Vadra's company, Skylight Hospitality, bought a land parcel of 3.53 acres for Rs 7.5 crore in the year 2008 and the same piece of land was later sold for Rs 58 crore without the project being completed.

The agency questioned Vadra for over 18 hours in connection with the case in April this year. Vadra has been named as an accused in the chargesheet.

The land deal got mired in controversy in October, 2012 after IAS officer Ashok Khemka, then posted as the director general of Land Consolidation and Land Records-cum-Inspector-General of Registration of Haryana, cancelled the mutation of this categorising the transaction as violative of state consolidation Act and some related procedures.

An FIR was filed by the Haryana Police to probe this deal in 2018.

A year later, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a corruption case, accusing certain public officials in Haryana, along with other individuals, of defrauding landowners through a criminal conspiracy.

Later, the ED initiated a money laundering case linked to these alleged illicit gains. Several Congress leaders from Haryana have also been questioned by the ED in connection with the deal.