Robert Vadra’s Money Laundering Case -

Robert Vadra Case Timeline

Trouble mounts for Vadra as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the Delhi High Court that it needs custodial interrogation of Vadra regarding “money chain” in money laundering case. The agency expressed in front of the Justice Chandra Shekhar that Robert Vadra is not co-operating with the investigation team in the case. Delhi High Court has probed this case under the Provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Robert Vadra has been accused of money laundering in the purchase of a London based property – at 12, Byanston Square- evaluated at 1.9 million pounds (over Rs.17 crores). Vadra’s lawyer has denied the allegation that Vadra is not co-ordinating in interrogation in the case as his client has co-operated in the investigation before the agency whenever summoned.

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The lawyer said that not confessing to the accusations against him does not mean that he is not co-operating with the investigative team. His client has constantly responded to all the queries put to him by the ED (Enforcement Directorate). After listening to this controversy of Lawyer and ED, the court listed the matter for closing arguments on November 5. The court was hearing the ED’s appeal for demanding the anticipatory bail by the trial court but Vadra opposed the plea by saying that they have not ever tampered with any of the evidences as the agency has already seized the documents related to the case. He also defended himself by telling that there has not been even a single instance when he or his lawyer has not co-operated with ED (Enforcement Directorate). The ED has no substance to support the accusations made against him.

Vadra said in his reply of fleeing away from the country, “The conduct of the respondent (Vadra) in returning to India from abroad voluntarily upon reading press reports that ED was investigating him made it abundantly clear that Vadra had no intention of whatsoever of fleeing the country and was determined to stay in India and clear the name.”

Vadra has neither received any payola for any deal nor has he any holdings in the real-estate or any beneficial property of ownership outside India. He claims that the main objective of the agency is to cause the preconceptions in the mind of public and court both. In the last hearing of court, Vadra’s plea was dismissed to not take any coercive action against him in the money chain in money laundering case. Vadra was also granted anticipatory bail and was directed by the court not to leave the country without any prior permission of the legal agency and has to join the probe as and when called by the investigating officers. When Vadra was diagnosed with the tumour in the large intestine and presented an application in the court prescribed by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital saying that he can visit the UK for the second opinion if he wishes so, ED had opposed the application saying the medical condition was merely a pretext to go where laundered money is parked. On the other hand, the court had granted Robert Vadra permission to travel to the US and Netherlands for six weeks for health reasons but had imposed various conditions on him. The court had also directed him to submit the stay address in US along with his contact numbers and had to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs.25 lakhs. He had to inform the court about his arrival in India.

Robert Vadra Background

Robert Vadra is an Indian entrepreneur who runs brass and wood handicrafts business. He is the spouse of Priyanka Gandhi, born to Scottish mother named Maureen and to Indian father named Rajendra Vadra in Punjabi Khatri family. Robert’s father Rajendra Vadra hails from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh whereas his mother is of Scottish origin. Rajendra has moved from Sialkot (now in Pakistan) during partition. He is also the son-in-law of late Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India and Sonia Gandhi, the former president of Indian National Congress and brother-in-law of Rahul Gandhi, the president of the Indian National Congress who has emerged from a family of political leaders, popularly known as the Nehru-Gandhi family. As far as his education is concerned, he studied at British School, New Delhi and is high school educated only whereas his wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra went to the Modern School and accomplished her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi and later a master’s degree in Buddhist studies. During the period of 2000-2010, Robert has faced many disappointments in his family.

Robert had two siblings, one brother named as Richard Vadra and sister named as Michelle Vadra. In 2001, he lost his sister who met with a road accident, in 2003, his brother ended his own life and in 2009. His father’s dead body was found in a Delhi motel. Robert Vadra is invincible in terms of fashion and fitness and he is passionate about luxury cars like Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar and Porsche Panamera and bikes named Suzuki Intruder, Suzuki Boulevard. He has always been a style quotient and has also been awarded as Best Dressed Man award by an English newspaper in 2011. Robert met Priyanka when she was 13 years old through his sister in 1985. He supported her and Rahul in their tough times after the assassination of his father Rajiv Gandhi.

Soon, Rahul and Robert came close to each other as both are fitness freaks. In the meantime, Robert and Priyanka started dating and fell in love. They decided to tie knots in 1997. Though Robert’s father was not happy with this relationship initially but later both took the vows with the consent of their families. The venue for the marriage ceremony was Gandhi house with the gathering of only 150 guests. The couple is blessed with two children, a daughter Miraya Vadra and a son Raihan Vadra. He started many companies related to handicrafts, real estate and hospitality whose director is his mother Ms. Maureen Vadra. He has been involved in many political controversies because of his connections with the Gandhi family. Many opposition parties have lifted their fingers on Robert Vadra also. Several Indian politicians have also put allegations on Robert for CWG scams of over Rs. 10,000 crores but failed to prove it.