Enforcement Directorate seeks assets and investment details of Robert Vadra

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday sought properties, investments and income details from Robert Vadra, son-in-law UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Vadra was questioned at the ED office in the national Capital for eight hours for the third day.

"He was asked about whether he has acquired any property directly or through his companies. Vadra was the director of Skylight Hospitality, a company that was raided on December 11, 2018. He has been asked to handover documents pertaining to sale and purchase of properties between 2007 and 2012," said a senior ED officer.

"He was also asked to explain whether he has invested abroad directly or indirectly," the officer added.

During questioning, Vadra said that he has already submitted documents pertaining to his association with Skylight Hospitality.

Vadra is also being questioned about his financial association with absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. The investigators said that Bhandari, when questioned by the Income Tax department on April 30, 2016, confessed to financing Vadra's trip to France in 2012.

The I-T department document which is now part of ED's investigation according to which Sanjay Bhandari was asked, "I am showing you a copy of printout of flight ticked booked for Robert Vadra to travel from Nice, France to Delhi during the period 13.08.2012 to 19.08.2012. This is booked through agency from International Travel Home, Pahar Ganj, Delhi. Can you state whether this ticket was booked by you on behalf of Vadra and who made the payment?"

What Sanjay Bhandari replied is troubling for Vadra. Bhandari had told the IT department officers that, "Yes, I confirm it was booked on his (Robert Vadra) instruction but as far as I remember it was purchased but I don't remember how and who made the payments."

The ED sleuths has also questioned him about his association with arms deals. He reached Jamnagar office at 10:40 am and left for lunch at 1:45 pm and then returned at 2:45 pm to join the probe again.

This was third day of Vadra being questioned within a week. On last Friday, he was grilled for eight hours and on last Wednesday he was questioned for six hours.

Earlier the agency has questioned Vadra about his nine properties in the UK bought illegally through kickbacks received in petroleum deals when the UPA government was in power. The properties were purchased between 2005 and 2010. The total value of these properties is around 12 million pounds, more than Rs 110 crore.