ED questions Robert Vadra in UK-based fugitive Sanjay Bhandari money laundering case

Vadra had earlier skipped 2 ED summons, connected June 10, citing sick health, and connected June 17 owed to overseas question for his daughter’s graduation

Businessman Robert Vadra, hubby of elder Congress person Priyanka Gandhi, appeared earlier the Enforcement Directorate (ED) present connected Monday successful transportation with a wealth laundering probe linked to UK-based fugitive arms trader Sanjay Bhandari.

A elder ED serviceman confirmed to The Tribune that Vadra, 56, arrived astatine the agency’s bureau astir 11 americium and is presently being questioned.

Vadra had earlier skipped 2 ED summons — connected June 10, citing sick health, and connected June 17 owed to overseas question for his daughter’s graduation.

The probe forms portion of a wider probe into Bhandari, who fled India successful 2016 aft Income Tax raids and is present based successful the UK. The ED registered a lawsuit against him nether the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) successful February 2017, pursuing an I-T complaint expanse nether the anti-black wealth law.

The bureau filed its archetypal complaint expanse against Bhandari successful 2020, and since past has besides been probing his alleged links with Vadra. In a supplementary complaint expanse filed successful 2023, the ED alleged that Bhandari “acquired” a spot astatine 12, Bryanston Square, London successful 2009 and renovated it “as per the directions of Vadra.”

Vadra has consistently denied immoderate ownership oregon relation with the London property, calling the lawsuit a “political witch-hunt” aimed astatine harassing him for governmental reasons.

Recently, a Delhi tribunal declared Bhandari a fugitive economical offender nether the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), 2018.