New Delhi: A Delhi court Tuesday extended Robert Vadra’s interim protection from arrest till March 25 in a money-laundering case and asked him to join the probe after the ED alleged that he was not cooperating and sought his custodial interrogation. Special judge Arvind Kumar granted the interim anticipatory bail to Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Vadra had filed an anticipatory bail application in the case linked to allegations of money-laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square, worth 1.9 million pounds. The property is allegedly owned by him.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), represented by Special Public Prosecutors DP Singh and Nitesh Rana, told the court that there was reasonable apprehension that Vadra being a highly influential person would tamper with the evidence and hamper the investigation.
“If he is granted a blanket protection of bail, there is all likelihood that he will tamper with the evidence and would influence witnesses,” the public prosecutors told the court.
ED further said that Vadra had in a ‘mala fide’ manner raised certain grounds claiming to be a ‘victim of a political vendetta’ and harassment at the hands of the agency.
“The allegations were totally unfounded and devoid of any merits. The investigation, in compliance with the procedure established by law, has been conducted as per the evidence on record disclosing commission of grave economic offences,” the ED stated.
The probe agency also said that Vadra cited his firm’s cooperation in another case as a ground for him being granted anticipatory bail.
“It (other case) has no bearing on the present case. The present case is based on an independent set of transactions, initiated on the basis of commission of offences under the Black Money Act. The investigation pertains to the undisclosed foreign assets and entities to evade tax,” the ED informed.
ED further said that it was unfortunate that he (Vadra) has got involved in a ‘political mud-slinging’ but his conduct during the course of investigation raised even more apprehensions that he was a key link to unearth the modus operandi adopted by all the accused persons and hence the agency be given a free hand to interrogate him. It said that the investigation was at a crucial stage and various incriminating documents have come on record.
It should be stated here that February 16, the court had extended Vadra’s protection from arrest till Tuesday.
PTI