Did Robert Vadra Evade Questions About His Links to UK Arms Consultant Sanjay Bhandari?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Robert Vadra faces scrutiny from the ED over alleged money laundering.
- He has denied any wrongdoing during multiple interrogations.
- The investigation involves properties in London linked to Sanjay Bhandari.
- Bhandari has been declared a fugitive economic offender.
- The ED claims these properties are considered proceeds of crime.
New Delhi, July 14 (NationPress) - Robert Vadra, who is married to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, was reportedly unresponsive while addressing ED inquiries regarding his purported financial ties with Sanjay Bhandari, a UK-based arms consultant, as stated by sources on Monday.
Called in connection with a money laundering case filed in 2016, Vadra was uncooperative during a two-hour interrogation, failing to provide satisfactory answers concerning two property transactions in London, according to sources.
Accompanied by his wife, Vadra arrived at the ED office in central Delhi around noon and departed nearly two hours later, without offering any comments to the media.
The businessman, who is the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, has consistently denied any misconduct during his multiple appearances before the ED.
Previously, Vadra has criticized the ED for what he describes as harassment, asserting that he has nothing new to disclose.
The ED has claimed that the properties involved are benami assets of Vadra, acquired in collusion with Sanjay Bhandari.
These two properties in London are located at Grosvenor Hill Court, 13 Bourdon Street, and 19 Bryanston Square. They are considered proceeds of crime associated with the money laundering investigation initiated in 2016.
The ED alleges that Vadra has occasionally stayed at the Bryanston Square property during his visits to London.
The scrutiny of these properties escalated after investigators detected benami transactions involving Vadra and Bhandari.
The investigative agency accused Bhandari of renovating a property in London in 2009 using funds allegedly provided by Vadra.
On July 5, a Delhi Court declared Bhandari a fugitive economic offender, following a British court's refusal to extradite him to India.
Bhandari, aged 62, fled to the UK in 2016 and was classified as a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, allowing the probe agency to seize his assets.
A chargesheet against Bhandari was filed by the ED in 2020, based on investigations initiated by the Income Tax department under anti-money laundering legislation.
Bhandari faces allegations of hiding overseas assets, providing false information to conceal details about these assets, and utilizing backdated documents.