ED allowed ‘indisposed’ Vadra to cut short questioning

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 20

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday questioned AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi’s husband Robert Vadra for three hours in connection with its investigations into supposedly suspicious purchase of properties overseas.

This was the fourth time that Mr Vadra appeared before ED for questioning in the case.

According to ED officials, Vadra came to the agency’s Jamnagar House office around 10.30 am with his lawyers.

The sources said that ED could not question him and record his statements on Wednesday after Vadra said he was unwell. He skipped ED’s summons on Tuesday as well citing ill health. “He is now likely to join the probe on Friday next, as a fresh summon would be sent to him,” an official said, adding that Wednesday’s appearance was “scheduled” in connection with “a criminal complaint related to allegations of money laundering to purchase assets abroad”.

Meanwhile, Vadra’s supporters held protests outside ED’s office on Wednesday but were soon dispersed by police here.    

ED had questioned Vadra for 23 hours over three days in connection with the case earlier this month after a Delhi court ordered that the cooperate with investigators. The agency’s case against Vadra relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property, located at 12, Bryanston Square and worth 1.9 million pounds, which is allegedly owned by him in a “benami” way.