The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed the second supplementary charge sheet in the money-laundering case against businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. This case is related to fugitive arms businessman Sanjay Bhandari living in London. The charge sheet has been filed in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, where the court will now hear it on December 6.
Legal action moved ahead in Bhandari case
According to sources, this is the second chargesheet against Vadra in money laundering related cases. Earlier in July, ED had filed a charge sheet against him for alleged irregularities in a land deal in Shikohpur, Haryana. ED has already interrogated Vadra in the Bhandari case.
Prosecution complaint filed in court, Vadra becomes ninth accused
Vadra has been made the ninth accused in the supplementary charge sheet filed in this case. However, the court has not yet taken cognizance of this charge sheet. ED said that Vadra’s statement was recorded under PMLA in July this year.
How did the matter start?
The British court has already rejected the demand for extradition of Sanjay Bhandari. A Delhi court had declared him a fugitive economic offender in July last. In 2016, after the Income Tax Department raided Bhandari’s premises, he fled to London.
The ED had registered a criminal case under PMLA against Bhandari and others in February 2017. This action was taken on the basis of the charge sheet of the Income Tax Department, which was filed against him under the Black Money Act of 2015.
What claims has ED made in the charge sheet?
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged in its charge sheet filed in this case in 2023 that in the year 2009, Sanjay Bhandari had bought a house in London and it was allegedly renovated on the instructions of Robert Vadra. The agency says that the cost of this renovation was also borne by Vadra. At the same time, Robert Vadra has completely rejected these allegations and said that he does not have any house or property in London. He claimed that he was being targeted and harassed for political purposes.