Vadra, 56, arrived at the central Delhi office of the federal probe agency shortly after 11 am, accompanied by his wife, reported PTI. The questioning concluded shortly after 5 pm, with Vadra stepping out briefly during the lunch break
Businessman Robert Vadra, with wife and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, arrives to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its office for his questioning in connection with the UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari linked money laundering case, in New Delhi, on Monday. PIC/PTI
Businessman Robert Vadra, who is the husband of Congress Wayanad Lok Sabha lawmaker Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, was questioned on Monday for nearly five hours by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to UK-based arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, official sources said.
Vadra, 56, arrived at the central Delhi office of the federal probe agency shortly after 11 am, accompanied by his wife, reported PTI. The questioning concluded shortly after 5 pm, with Vadra stepping out briefly during the lunch break.
His statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to sources. They indicated that Vadra may be summoned again, as he allegedly “failed” to provide satisfactory answers to certain questions regarding his financial connections with Bhandari and his family members.
This was not Vadra’s first appearance before the agency in connection with the case. He had previously been summoned twice last month, but sought postponement — once citing ill health and later obtaining court approval to travel abroad.
Vadra is currently under investigation in three separate money laundering cases, two of which are related to alleged irregularities in land deals. In April, he was questioned by the ED for three consecutive days in connection with an alleged 2008 land deal in Haryana. He is also being probed for financial irregularities in a land transaction in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
The Bhandari-linked case stems from findings in a 2023 ED chargesheet, which alleges that Bhandari “acquired” the property at 12, Bryanston Square in London in 2009 and had it renovated “as per the directions of Vadra”, with funds for the renovation allegedly provided by Vadra himself.
Vadra has consistently denied any ownership — direct or indirect — of property in London, describing the case as a politically motivated campaign. He has stated that he is being “hounded and harassed” to serve political ends.
The ED is expected to file a fresh charge sheet in the Bhandari case following Vadra’s questioning.
Sanjay Bhandari, 63, fled to London in 2016 shortly after the Income Tax Department raided his premises in Delhi. He was recently declared a fugitive economic offender by a Delhi court, allowing authorities to begin the confiscation of his assets worth several crores of rupees.
In a setback to Indian efforts to bring him back, a UK court recently refused the Indian government's request to appeal to Britain’s Supreme Court against Bhandari’s discharge in the extradition case, effectively ending hopes of his return to face prosecution in India.
(With PTI inputs)
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