New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate told the special CBI court that it wants the custody of Robert Vadra for interrogation in a money laundering case. The ED said it has sufficient material against the accused and also warned that he might influence the investigation if allowed to be free.
The investigating agency told the court that Robert Vadra was harassing the agency and also countered his claim of ‘political witch hunt’.
The ED told the court,”Harassment is being caused by Robert Vadra. We say let him come and join the investigation. It is held in camera and he comes for the sessions accompanied by many people including his wife and then he claims that he is ‘hounded and harassed’ to subserve political ends. Vadra is attempting to over-awe the system.
The ED through the Special Public Prosecutor D. P. Singh explained the money trail of the London property in question. The agency said that the property was bought by Sanjay Bhandari through his company Syntac. The property was sold to Vertex for 1.9 million pounds through purchase of shares. Later, renovation was carried to the tune of 65 thousand pounds and later sold for the same amount despite the renovations by C. C. Thampi through his company Skylight Dubai. The money later returned to Sanjay Bhandari’s Syntac.
The agency also explained that in their investigations they have come across the 100 acres of properties in Faridabad. The properties were purchased by H. L. Pahwa who despite having a negative balance and without taking a loan was able to buy the property.
These properties were then sold to Vadra. He has a significant income but no turnover.
During the hearing on March 25, the ED informed the court that the offence is about the money coming back in as kickbacks, Rs. 300 crores from Pilatis and another one from Samsung. The payment is coming in the banks.
The Special CBI Court which was hearing two anticipatory bail pleas filed by Vadra and his aide Manoj Arora, has reserved the order on the bail pleas to April 1.
