'Hounded by govt for last ten years': Rahul Gandhi backs Robert Vadra; calls ED chargesheet 'witch hunt'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has come out in strong support of his brother-in-law Robert Vadra, who faces money laundering charges from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Taking to X, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha denounced the ED's chargesheet as a "witch hunt" that has persisted for a decade.


"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 harassment," Rahul said.


"I know that they are all brave enough to withstand any kind of persecution and they will continue to do so with dignity. The truth will eventually prevail," he added.

Earlier on Thursday, the central probing agency lodged a chargesheet against Vadra, accusing him of laundering “proceeds of crime” in a Gurgaon land deal worth over Rs 58 crore. This comes a day after ED attached his properties worth Rs 37 crore

Besides Vadra, ED has accused 11 others in its chargesheet against the businessman, husband of MP Priyanka Gandhi. The other accused include Onkareshwar Properties and promoters/directors Satyanand Yajee & K S Virk, sources said.

The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi is yet to take cognisance of the ED chargesheet against Robert Vadra.

Reacting to the ED chargesheet, Vadra’s office said the “present proceedings are nothing more than an extension of the political witch hunt by the present govt”, adding that he would defend and clear his name in court.

“As a law-abiding citizen, Vadra has always and will continue to extend his fullest cooperation to the authorities and he is confident that at the end of it all, he will be cleared of any wrongdoing,” the statement said.

ED’s money laundering probe is based on an FIR registered by Gurgaon police in 2018, alleging fraudulent transactions in the land deal. The ED on Wednesday attached 43 properties worth over Rs 37 crore associated with Vadra and his entities, including Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd.