After hearing a plea filed on behalf of Directorate of Enforcement (ED) for cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Robert Vadra in connection with money laundering for purchase of a London based property, the Delhi high court on Monday issued a notice to him to file a reply for the same till July 17.
ED has made 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 probe agency has alleged that Manoj Arora, an employee of Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality LLP, was a key person in the case as he was aware of the latter’s overseas undeclared assets and instrumental in arranging funds.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar had granted bail to Manoj Arora and Vadra with the conditions of furnishing a surety bond of Rs.5 lakh and a surety of the same amount on April 1. The court further directed him not to leave the country without taking permission from the court and to not tamper with the evidence.
Counsel for ED submitted through petition before Delhi high court that protection granted through bail to Vadra would be detrimental for the purpose of investigation. ED also challenged the anticipatory bail granted to Manoj Arora, co-accused in the case, because of the risk of tampering with evidence.
ED has submitted through petition that Arora arranged funds for Vadra’s through United Arab Emirates.
Vadra is also accused in alleged irregularities in land deals in Gurugram of Haryana. An FIR was lodged against Vadra and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in September last year in connection with land deals.
Its alleged that Vadra’s company Skylight Hospitality sold 3.5 acres of land in 2008 in Shikohpur village to DLF at a rate much higher than the prevailing rate. Questions have also been raised over the purchase and subsequent sale of land by the company in Bikaner, Rajasthan, at a significant premium through a maze of transactions.
Business premises linked to Vadra’s associates have been raided during the probe and ED has asked him to be present for questioning in the alleged Money Laundering case.
The probe agency has submitted that the money laundering case was lodged against Arora after his role came up during the probe of another case by the Income Tax Department under the newly-enacted Black Money Act and tax law against absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
ED earlier submitted in the court that as Vadra was not cooperating with the investigating agency, his custody interrogation was required in the investigation. Counsel for ED said that information was received about various new properties in London which allegedly belong to Vadra, including two houses of five and four million pounds each, six other flats and more properties. (UNI)
