Robert Vadra questioned by ED in money laundering case

Investigating officer on Thursday recorded Vadra’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday questioned Robert Vadra in connection with a money laundering case linked with the alleged purchase of illegal assets abroad, officials said.

Vadra, husband of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, was with the ED officials for about seven hours, officials familiar with the matter said.

The case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property worth 1.9 million British pounds.

Vadra was asked questions pertaining to the purchase of assets and his alleged links with the absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and Bhandari’s associates, officials said.

Vadra, during questioning, is also understood to have denied having any acquaintance with Sumit Chadha (Bhandari’s family member) and NRI businessman CC Thampi.

Thampi has reportedly told the ED that the London-based property was visited by Vadra, a charge denied by the businessman on Tuesday. These details were also furnished by the ED to the court when it opposed Vadra’s anticipatory bail and prayed for his custodial interrogation.

Hours before the questioning, Vadra took to social media to say that he was being subjected to “sensation and unnecessary drama”. He accused the officials for leaking his personal details. “But blatantly and carelessly airing my health matters is not correct...” he said.