Robert Vadra gets interim bail in money laundering case

A Delhi court on Saturday granted interim bail till February 16 to Robert Vadra, Congress President Rahul Gandhis brother-in-law, in connection with a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Special Judge Arvind Kumar directed Vadra to join the ED investigation on February 6.

The court was hearing Vadra's anticipatory bail plea. The case relates to ownership of 1.9 million pounds undisclosed assets abroad, allegedly belonging to Vadra, husband of Priyanka Gandhi, new General Secretary of the Congress for Uttar Pradesh East.

The ED lodged a money laundering case against Vadra's close aide Manoj Arora after his role surfaced during a probe by the Income Tax Department into an another case under the new Black Money Act and tax law against absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. The London property was allegedly bought by Bhandari and sold in 2010 for the same amount despite incurring additional expenses on its renovation.

On December 7, as part of the investigation, the ED conducted searches at a number of premises in Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru. The ED counsel told the court that the London property was part of kickbacks received in a petroleum deal. The money was transferred by Santech International, FZC, the UAE (a company controlled by Bhandari).

There were few more properties that needed to be probed, the counsel said. Vadra was not present in the court. Vadra's counsel informed the court that he was in London to take care of his ailing mother.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)