ED seeks cancellation of Robert Vadra bail

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday moved to the Delhi high court seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Robert Vadra in a money laundering case. Mr Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, was granted anticipatory bail by a trial court here on April 1.

The ED moved high court seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Vadra in a money laundering case, claiming that he was non-cooperative and evasive during the probe and may tamper with the evidence.

It sought quashing of the trial court’s April 1 order by which Vadra was granted anticipatory bail, saying the special judge failed to consider the settled position of law that bail should not be “granted in a routine manner”.

Filed through ED prosecutor D P Singh, the plea said the protection granted to Vadra -- brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi — would be detrimental to investigation in the case on certain crucial aspects, including ascertaining the exact source of the alleged tainted money and the end use of the funds involved in the case.

The Enforcement Directorate’s plea is likely to be listed for hearing on Monday. Besides Vadra, the agency has also challenged the anticipatory bail granted to Manoj Arora, an employee of Vadra’s Skylight Hospitality LLP and a co-accused in the case. Vadra is facing allegations of money laundering in purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds.The ED had alleged that Arora, a close aide of Vadra, was aware of his overseas undeclared assets and was instrumental in arranging funds.

Vadra and Arora’s separate pleas seeking quashing of the money laundering case are also pending before the high court. In the plea, the agency contended that if Vadra is granted a blanket protection of bail, there is a likelihood that he may tamper with the evidence and the witnesses in the case and the trial court has failed to appreciate that he is a highly influential person.

It said Vadra is “non-cooperative” and “evasive” and he was given several opportunities to come out clean about his alleged role in the case but he remained evasive. On the contrary, Vadra has “maliciously” claimed to be a victim of political vendetta and made all possible attempts to sensationalise the case, it added.

The ED said the other important aspects of the investigation are to unearth the entire source of credits for purchasing the properties and ascertaining all similar transactions in the accounts of the concerned entities, linked to this case and which have been a result of the alleged money laundering. It said they also require to confront Vadra with voluminous incriminating  material for bringing the investigation to a logical conclusion.