Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe case relating to alleged possession of illegal foreign assets.
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe case relating to alleged possession of illegal foreign assets.
Vadra's wife Priyanka Gandhi accompanied him, in a white Toyota Land Cruiser along with SPG personnel in tow, and dropped him outside the agency's office in Jamnagar House in central Delhi. She soon left in her convoy of vehicles.
Details from Robert Vadra’s questioning accessed by Zee Media
Seven people including Deputy Director Rajeev Sharma and Assistant Director ML Sharma of the ED team grilled Robert Vadra.
He was asked more than 40 questions. He was asked about the mail trail with Sanjay Bhandari. He was asked about his business relations with C Thampi including how shares from his company were transferred to his.
A list of questions asked
How much property do you own London?
What’s your relation with Sanjay Bhandari?
Who owns the six flats and two houses in London?
Sanjay Bhandari bought flats in London and then sold them. How did the amount end up in your account?
Did Manoj Arora send an email to Bhandari’s man?
What does Manoj Arora do and how did he get so much money to buy properties in London?
In the first round of questioning, Robert Vadra kept his responses short. If he answers all questions, then the questioning will end today. If ED doesn’t get all the answers today, he will be called again for questioning. Vadra denied that he had any properly in London. He was told to give his answer in writing. He was also asked to give in writing that he didn’t know Sanjay Bhandari. He was told that if he gave wrong answers, he would face legal sanctions.
A Delhi Court extended interim protection granted to Manoj Arora, a close aide of Robert Vadra, till February 16 in an alleged money laundering case filed against him.
Arora's interim protection was to end today.
Who is Manoj Arora?
On January 11, the Patiala House Court had granted interim protection from arrest to Arora. It had also ordered Arora to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and join the investigation.
The ED had moved the Delhi Court seeking issuance of an open-ended non-bailable warrant against Arora.
In its plea, the ED claimed that Arora arranged funds for Vadra's undeclared assets overseas. It further alleged that proceeds of the crime were used to channelise funds from the United Arab Emirates.
The ED had also sought a red corner notice against Arora to prevent him from fleeing India.
1. Manoj Arora's interim protection extended
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A Delhi court Wednesday extended till February 16 the interim protection from arrest granted to Manoj Arora, a close aide of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, in a money laundering case.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) requested Special Judge Arvind Kumar that as the next date of hearing in Vadra's case was fixed for February 16, this case too be posted for the same date.
The case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property -- located at 12, Bryanston Square -- worth 1.9 million pounds, which is allegedly owned by Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
2. Stand by my family: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
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"I stand by my family," said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at the Congress headquarters where she came to take charge as the party general secretary. Her remarks came in response to a query about her husband being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case relating to alleged possession of illegal foreign assets. Before coming to AICC headquarters, Priyanka Gandhi dropped off Vadra at the probe agency's office.
3. BJP attacks Vadra
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The BJP on Wednesday attacked the Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra after the ED quizzed him connection with a money laundering probe, alleging he got "kickbacks" from petroleum and defence deals during the UPA regime.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that Vadra "bought eight to nine properties in London" from the money he got as kickbacks in 2008-09 when the UPA was in power.
Addressing a press conference here, Patra said he would like to ask Vadra "what is the formula of becoming crorepati from roadpati?" Alleging that "corruption" has been the "core agenda" of the Congress party, Patra said, "Everybody knows every member of the family is out on bail." "The 2019 Lok Sabha election is a fight between the gang of corrupt versus transparency of Narendra Modi government," he said.
Vadra has in the past denied allegations of wrongdoing and termed them a political witch hunt against him. Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi is married to Vadra and has been recently appointed as party general secretary incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Patra alleged that the "kickbacks received from petroleum deal" went to the account of a company linked to Vadra and that he did round-tripping of money through various ways.
Similarly, the BJP spokesperson alleged, another company used to get kickbacks in defence deals during the UPA regime, which eventually went to Vadra.
Quoting an e-mail trail, he alleged that Vadra's company received "kickbacks" from a series of companies floated to "turn black money into white".
4. First time Vadra appears before probe agency
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This is the first time Vadra, also the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, is appearing before any probe agency in connection with alleged criminal charges of dubious financial dealings. Vadra has denied these allegations in the past and termed them a political witch hunt against him.
Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Gandhi is married to Vadra and was recently appointed as party general secretary incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Vadra was directed by a Delhi court to cooperate with the investigation being carried out by the central probe agency after he knocked on its door seeking anticipatory bail in this case.
The court had asked him to appear before the ED on Wednesday after returning from London.
Official sources said Vadra will be put through questions on transactions, purchase and possession of certain immovable assets in London and his statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property located at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds, which is allegedly owned by Vadra.
The agency had told the court that it has received information about various new properties in London which belongs to Vadra.
The ED had carried out raids in this case in December last year and grilled his aide Manoj Arora, an employee of a firm linked to Vadra, Skylight Hospitality LLP.
Vadra has also been directed by the Rajasthan High Court to appear before the ED on February 12 in connection with another money laundering case being probed by the agency.
