NEW DELHI, Feb 6: Robert Vadra was today questioned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe into alleged possession of illegal foreign assets, days after his wife Priyanka Gandhi was formally inducted into the Congress party.
In a move seen as sending a political message ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Priyanka, sister of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, accompanied her husband in a white Toyota Land Cruiser along with SPG personnel in tow, and dropped him outside the probe agency’s office in Jamnagar House in central Delhi.
Shortly after, Priyanka assumed charge as AICC general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East. She was named for the post on January 23.
“I stand by my family,” said Priyanka in response to a query about her husband being questioned by the ED.
It is for the the first time that Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, is appearing before any probe agency in connection with alleged criminal charges of dubious financial dealings
After jostling with a posse of assembled media persons, Robert Vadra entered the ED office at around 3:47 pm, minutes after a team of his lawyers reached the premises. He then signed the attendance register before being taken in for questioning.
Vadra has denied allegations of possessing illegal foreign assets and termed them a political witch hunt against him. Vadra has alleged he was being “hounded and harassed” to subserve political ends.
The BJP seized on the questioning of Vadra to attack the Congress and allege he got kickbacks from a petroleum and defence deals took place during the UPA regime.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged at a news conference that Vadra bought 8 to 9 properties in London from the money he got as kickbacks from a petroleum and a defence deal which took place in 2008-09 when the UPA was in power. Patra did not provide any evidence to back up his claim.
Vadra was directed by a Delhi court to cooperate with the investigation being carried out by the ED after he knocked at its door seeking anticipatory bail in the money laundering case.
The court had asked him to appear before the ED today on his return from London. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
