The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday opposed businessman Robert Vadra’s plea in Delhi court seeking permission to fly to the United Kingdom and two other countries citing health problems, PTI reported. The court reserved its order on Vadra’s application for June 3.
“His custodial interrogation is required and may flee,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate, told the court. “He is facing serious charges. His medical condition is merely a pretext where laundered money is parked. The medical condition appears to be is routine medical check up.”
The investigation agency also told the court that Vadra has been linked to alleged arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who resides in London.
However, advocate KTS Tulsi, representing Vadra, told the court that the businessman has a small tumour in his large intestine, and wants to get a second medical opinion in London. Special Judge Arvind Kumar said he will pass an order after hearing both parties on June 3.
The Enforcement Directorate summoned Vadra to its Delhi office at 10.30 am on Thursday in connection with a corruption case, multiple reports said on Wednesday. Vadra is under the investigative agency’s scanner for land deals in London, Rajasthan and the Delhi-National Capital Region that are allegedly illegal.
This is the ninth time Vadra, who is the husband of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, has been called for questioning, reported NDTV. He appeared before the directorate in Delhi several times for questioning in February. Unidentified officials of the investigative agency told the news channel that they have received new evidence in their case against the businessman.
On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate moved the Delhi High Court seeking the cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to Vadra in a money laundering case. The anticipatory bail was granted by a special Central Bureau of Investigation court on April 1. The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to Vadra and his aide Manoj Arora on the Enforcement Directorate’s plea. Vadra has been asked to file his response by July 17.
The directorate has alleged that Vadra bought property worth £1.9 million (Rs 17.5 crore) using profits from “criminal acts”. The money was reportedly channelled through the United Arab Emirates. The investigation is being conducted under the provisions of the Black Money Act.
Vadra had filed the anticipatory bail application alleging that he was being subjected to “politically motivated, unwarranted, unjustified and malicious criminal prosecution”.
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