Businessman Robert Vadra left from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office late on Saturday, 9 February, after a third day of questioning in connection with a probe into allegations of money laundering to purchase assets abroad.
On 10 February morning, Vadra, in a Facebook post thanked his ‘friends and acquaintances’ for supporting him.
He is also expected to depose before the ED on 12 February in Jaipur in an another money-laundering case related to an alleged land scam in Bikaner. The Rajasthan High Court has directed him to cooperate with the agency in the case.
Vadra, who earlier faced the ED on Wednesday and Thursday, has been quizzed for almost 24 hours altogether.
Vadra arrived at the central probe agency's office at Jamnagar House in central Delhi at about 10:45 am in his private vehicle,on Saturday, and left around 8:15 pm. He was given an hour-long break for lunch. It is however not clear if he has been asked to depose again.
On the second day of interrogation, Vadra had left the ED office late on Thursday after almost nine hours of questioning.
He was accompanied by wife Priyanka Gandhi while leaving the ED office. He is also supposed to appear before the ED in Jaipur at 10:30 AM on Tuesday. He will be questioned regarding his alleged involvement in the Bikaner land scam, reports CNN News18.
Official sources told PTI that Vadra was required to rejoin the probe on Thursday as he may be needed to answer more questions on allegedly acquiring immovable assets in the United Kingdom.
Vadra had reached the ED office around 11:25 am on Thursday, about an hour after his team of lawyers reached there.
After two hours of questioning, he left for lunch and returned about an hour later to resume the session.
Vadra has shared documents with the investigating officer of the case and has assured some more will be provided as and when he gets them, the sources said, according to the report.
PM Modi Is Blinded by Revenge: Congress
Congress has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Robert Vadra's questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, alleging he was "blinded by revenge" and taking out his anger fearing an "imminent defeat" in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is blinded by revenge. Prime minister Modi is taking out his anger due to the imminent defeat in the upcoming polls," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
"False cases on Opposition leaders and their families are being registered... The whole country knows that since 2012, there has been a conspiracy against Robert Vadra by Modi and BJP. Seven years have gone by, but no evidence has been found against Robert Vadra or his associates," he said.
Vadra is expected to be questioned again on either Friday or Saturday.
Vadra's wife and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi came to the ED office, in Jamnagar House in central Delhi, in a black SUV to pick him up around 9:30 pm. Her vehicle was guarded by SPG personnel when it went inside the ED office.
On Wednesday, Vadra was dropped by Priyanka Gandhi at the ED office, where he was quizzed by the officials for over five hours.
The money laundering case is in regards to the purchase of a property in London, 12 Bryanston Square, worth 1.9 million pounds. Vadra was questioned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Vadra is said to have been put through questions on transactions, purchase and possession of certain immovable assets in London.
What Happened on Day 1 of Questioning?
On the first day of questioning, Robert Vadra was grilled for almost five hours by ED sleuths.
Vadra left the office at about 9:40 pm, after which his lawyer, Suman Jyoti Khaitan, spoke to the media and said that Vadra will cooperate with the investigation.
“All charges against him are wrong. We will cooperate with the agency 100 percent. He will come whenever he is called.”Suman Jyoti Khaitan, Vadra’s lawyer
It was for the first time that Vadra has appeared before any probe agency in connection with alleged criminal charges of dubious financial dealings.
Vadra has earlier denied allegations of possessing illegal foreign assets and termed them a political witch hunt against him. He has alleged he was being “hounded and harassed” to subserve political ends.
It is understood that Vadra was also grilled about his links with absconding and controversial defence dealer Sanjay Bhandari and Bhandari’s relative Sumit Chhadha in connection with certain emails recovered by agencies linked to the renovation of a London-based property.
Vadra was directed by a Delhi court on 2 February to cooperate with the probe being carried out by ED after he knocked at its door seeking anticipatory bail in the money laundering case.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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