New Delhi: The grilling of Robert Vadra by the Enforcement Directorate continued for the second day Thursday in connection with a probe into allegations that he laundered money to purchase illegal foreign assets.
Vadra, who was grilled for five-and-a-half-hours for the first time in the case Wednesday, arrived at the ED office in Jamnagar House in central Delhi at about 11.25am, about an hour after his team of lawyers.
After two hours of questioning, he left for lunch and returned about an hour later to resume the session.
Officials said Vadra was required to rejoin the probe on Thursday as he needed to answer more questions on allegedly acquiring immovable assets in United Kingdom. His statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as was done Wednesday, they added.
Vadra was asked about a dozen questions by a team of three ED officials, including the investigating officer of the case.
His appearance Wednesday before the ED acquired political overtones with his wife Priyanka Gandhi, appointed Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, accompanying him to the investigating agency’s office. She took charge of her new post at the Congress’ national headquarters on Akbar Road after that.
“He is my husband, he is my family…I support my family,” Priyanka Gandhi said in a show of support to Vadra, who returned from London Wednesday.
This is the first time that Vadra is appearing before any probe agency in connection with alleged dubious financial dealings.
Vadra has denied the allegations of possessing illegal foreign assets and termed them a political witch hunt against him. He said he was being ‘hounded and harassed’ to subserve political ends. His lawyer Suman Jyoti Khaitan said Wednesday night that Vadra had replied to every question put to him.
“All charges against him are wrong. We will cooperate with the agency 100 per cent. He will come whenever he is called,” Khaitan told reporters.
The ED case against Vadra relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property located at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million GBP (British pounds), which is allegedly owned by him.
The agency has also told the court that it has received information about various new properties in London which belong to Vadra. These include two houses, one worth five million GBP and the other four million GBP, six other flats and more properties.
PTI
