A Delhi court on Tuesday after hearing extended the interim bail of Robert Vadra, the brother in law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi in a case registered by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Directorate of Enforcement 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.
Counsel for Vadra submitted that he is a law abiding citizen and has appeared before the Investigating Agency as and when called.
It has alleged that Manoj Arora, an employee of Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality LLP was a key person in the case and he was aware of the latter’s overseas undeclared assets and was instrumental in arranging funds.
ED has submitted that Arora arranged funds for Vadra’s undeclared assets overseas and proceeds of crime were used to channel funds from the UAE.
For alleged irregularities in land deals in Gurgaon at Haryana an FIR was lodged against Vadra and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the month of September last year. He has faced allegations that his 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.
The business premises linked to Vadra’s associates have been raided during the probe and Enforcement Directorate has asked him to be present for questioning in the alleged money laundering case.
Directorate of Enforcement 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.
Directorate of Enforcment today submitted before the court that Vadra is not cooperating with the Investigating Agency so his custody interrogation is required in the Investigation. Counsel for ED further submitted that information has 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.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar in this matter has directed to Investigating Agency to provide Vadra all the documents seized from his office as his Counsel has submitted that without providing the documents he has been questioning by the Investigating Agency.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar after hearing submission on behalf of Government Counsel and Defence Counsel extended the interim protection of Vadra till March 25 and directed him to join the Investigation.
