Govt conducting raids as they're unable to prove Vadra's involvement in scams: Jagdish Sharma

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Congress worker Jagdish Sharma, who was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday morning and released by the investigating agency in the evening, has alleged that the central government is unable to prove the land scams against Robert Vadra, and is hence having raids conducted.

Sharma, who is believed to be a close aide of the businessman, told ANI, "I think since the government is unable to prove the land scams against Robert Vadra, they are doing these things. I was pressurised and asked to name various people. I know Robert Sahab for last 25 years and he has not done any wrong."

While being taken to the ED office, Sharma had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government wanted to "trap" Vadra.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla, while speaking about the raids, told ANI: "The ED raided his personal staff residence. People were cooperating with the agency. A person had gone to get the key of the office, yet they chose to break the lock of the office. Just because you are in power does not mean that you can harass anyone. If you have any evidence then that must be produced before the court. After all, there is a system in place."

On Friday, the ED conducted raids at the premises of some close associates of Vadra, son-in-law of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, for allegedly receiving money from defence suppliers, according to sources in the investigating agency.

The raids were conducted at three places in Delhi, in addition to Bengaluru, the ED sources said.

While Vadra's advocate Suman Khaitan cried foul, the ED sources said the investigating agency has "evidence" that the persons being raided had received money in their bank accounts from defence suppliers.

Khaitan claimed that the ED officials raided "close associates" and business partners of Vadra without producing any search warrants.