This is the ninth time time Robert Vadra is being called for questioning..
Businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has been called by the Enforcement Directorate, to appear before it tomorrow, as part of investigation into alleged illegal property deals. The case involves the purchase of properties in London, Dubai, Rajasthan and the National Capital Region. This is the ninth time time he is being called for questioning.
Mr Vadra has to appear before the agency's Delhi office at 10:30 am tomorrow.
Before the national election, the BJP had relentlessly targeted the Congress over the allegations against Robert Vadra, who has called the matter a "political witch hunt". But in view of possible arrest, he had sought bail in advance from a court in Delhi. A trial court had given him protection from arrest in April, following which the Enforcement Directorate approached the Delhi High Court seeking cancelling of the anticipatory bail.
The Delhi High Court sent a notice to Mr Vadra on Monday over this and asked him to reply by July 17.
Sources in the probe agency said they have got new evidences in the benami (illegal) property case and this is why, the businessman has been called for questioning again.
Investigators claim that Robert Vadra, directly or indirectly, owns nine properties in London cumulatively worth around 12 million pounds. Three of these are villas, the rest, luxury flats. All these were purchased between 2005 and 2010, when the Congress-led UPA government was in power.
The allegations involve the purchase of a mansion at 12, Bryanston Square in London, which has an estimated value of 1.9 million pounds. Robert Vadra has also been battling allegations of shadowy land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan.
Robert Vadra recently approached a trial court seeking permission to travel abroad and his request is pending. The trial court, while granting anticipatory bail, had directed him not to leave the country without prior permission and also to join the probe as and when called by the investigating officer.