E-Paper
Priyanka Gandhi drops off Robert Vadra at Enforcement Directorate office, it is a clear message
Robert Vadra appeared before the probe agency in connection with a money laundering probe case.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanied husband Robert Vadra to the Enforcement Directorate office where he had been summoned to answer allegations of money laundering. Robert Vadra walked into the office of the central probe agency in the heart of the national capital, escorted by security personnel. Priyanka Gandhi’s convoy drove away a few minutes later.
From the ED office, she headed straight to the 10 Janpath residence of her mother Sonia Gandhi. She then walked over to neighbouring Congress headquarters at the Akbar Road headquarters, less than 2 km from the ED office at Jamnagar House where Robert Vadra was being questioned.
It was a quick visit that was designed, she told NDTV, to send a “clear message”.
“I stand by my family,” she told reporters, according to news agency Press Trust of India, as Congress workers shouted slogans hailed her at the party headquarters. “Priyanka you fight on, we are with you!” they said, according to IANS.
Watch: BJP, Congress in war of words over ED summons to Robert Vadra
Minutes later, the Congress released photographs of Priyanka Gandhi sitting in her new office with two visitors.
This is the first time that Robert Vadra has had to show up at the Enforcement Directorate office. On previous occasions, he had deputed his representatives and lawyers to respond to answer the agency’s questions.
The ED had recently complained to a judge hearing Robert Vadra’s request for interim protection against arrest that the businessman didn’t cooperate with them.
Vadra has all along denied allegations of wrongdoing and accused the ruling BJP-led national coalition of trying to implicate him in false cases particularly to target his wife Priyanka Gandhi and brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi.
A Congress leader said Robert Vadra had been an easy target for the central agencies to hit at the Gandhi family and attacks on the businessman were expected to get sharper, and more frequent. It was an eventuality that the Congress leadership has been prepared for, particularly when Priyanka Gandhi finally agreed to formally join the party.
Hours earlier on Wednesday, the BJP had fired at the Congress at a media briefing to coincide with Robert Vadra’s questioning. The ED case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property.
The Enforcement Directorate says it has information about various new properties in London linked to Vadra.
The ED carried out raids in this case in December last year and questioned Robert Vadra’s aide Manoj Arora, an employee of a firm linked to Vadra, Skylight Hospitality LLP.
Vadra has also been directed by the Rajasthan High Court to appear before the ED on February 12 in connection with another money laundering case being probed by the agency.
