Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law and husband of Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra, on Thursday morning, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to a case of alleged money laundering. Robert Vadra said he will cooperate with the ED and other investigative agencies until his name is clear.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanied him to the ED office.
“I have always maintained faith in the judiciary system of the country. I have always followed the summons and notices sent to me by the government offices. Till date I have appeared before the ED and cooperated with them for 11 times and have been questioned for over 70 hours. In future also I shall keep on cooperating them till the time my name is cleared from the false allegations,” Vadra posted on his Facebook timeline before appearing at the ED office.
Vadra, who had appeared before the ED for the first time on February 6 this year, was issued fresh summons by the agency after claiming they had got new evidence in the case which pertains to allegations of money laundering in a purchase of London-based property costing 1.9 million pounds and undisclosed entities set up to evade tax.
A trial court in New Delhi had, on April 1, granted anticipatory bail to Vadra on condition that he must not leave the country without permission and join the investigation whenever needed.
The Enforcement Directorate had, on May 24, moved the Delhi High Court seeking cancellation of Robert Vadra’s anticipatory bail. The ED also challenged the anticipatory bail granted to his close aide and co-accused Manoj Arora, who was an employee of Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality LLP.
Earlier, the ED had confronted Vadra with the emails he exchanged with the relative of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and Sumit Chadha and also asked for the details of his bank accounts and transaction reports.
(With agency inputs)