Money laundering case: Delhi court grants interim bail to Robert Vadra, directs him to join probe

A Delhi Court Saturday granted interim bail till February 16 to Robert Vadra in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Special judge Arvind Kumar also directed Vadra to appear before the ED on February 6 and cooperate in the investigation.

"I am granting him interim bail. Let him come and join the probe," the judge said.

The case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property -- located at 12, Bryanston Square -- worth 1.9 million pounds, which is allegedly owned by Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

During the hearing, special public prosecutor D P Singh and advocate Nitesh Rana, appearing for the ED, opposed Vadra's anticipatory bail and claimed that he had got kickbacks in a petroleum deal in 2009.

The agency has received information about various new properties in London which belongs to Vadra including two houses of 5 and 4 million each, 6 other flats and more properties.

"We just want him to come and inform about his properties," Rana said.

Senior advocate KTS Tulsi, appearing for Vadra, told the court that his client was out of the country for his mother's treatment and assured the court that he will come and join probe.

In his anticipatory bail plea, Vadra said that he was being subjected to "unwarranted, unjustified and malicious criminal prosecution which on the face of it is completely politically motivated and is being carried out for reasons other than those prescribed under law".

The plea said that the petitioner's office was raided by the ED on December 7, 2018 and therefore, he seriously apprehends that his liberty may be curtailed by the investigating agency.

"The petitioner is being subjected to a farce criminal prosecution which actually is beset with nothing else except political vendetta and most unfortunately the respondent being the law enforcement agency is a party to the unethical and illegal exercise.

"It is stated that the petitioners firm through its authorised representative Manoj Arora has already joined investigation with the ED conducting investigation into the affairs of the firm in Rajasthan with their offices at Jaipur on many occasions and has supplied all the relevant documents to the satisfaction of the officials of the ED," the plea said.

Vadra alleged that he is being "hounded and harassed" to subserve political ends.

"It is stated the the petitioner has highest regard for the due process of law and is always willing to cooperate with the investigation in the highly charged political atmosphere and political contours of the present investigation, he seriously apprehends arrest by the investigating authorities and in such circumstances, the petitioner by means of the present petition is also praying that while he is willing to join investigation with the ED authorities," his plea read.

Arora had earlier alleged before the court that the case was foisted on him by the NDA government out of "political vendetta".

However, the ED had refuted the allegations, asking that "should no authority investigate any political bigwig because that will be called a political vendetta?"