Robert Vadra reaches Jaipur for ED questioning in land scam case

Jaipur, Feb 11 (IANS) Congress President Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra arrived here on Monday for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged land scam case involving 275 acres of land in the Kolayat sub-division of Bikaner district.

Vadra was accompanied by his mother Maureen. He will be questioned by the ED on Tuesday. According to sources, he will have to answer 55 questions being drafted by the ED.

Last week in Delhi, Vadra was subjected to intense interrogation by the ED in connection with a money laundering probe against him for his alleged role in procuring assets abroad in an illegal manner.

Priyanka Gandhi, Vadra's wife and Congress General Secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh East, is also expected to reach the Pink City by 8.30 p.m. and will accompany her husband to the ED office on Tuesday, Congress sources said.

The fresh summon by the ED comes after the Rajasthan High Court directed Vadra and his mother to cooperate with the ED, as Vadra did not report to the agency even after being sent three summons in the land scam case earlier.

Vadra and his mother's statements shall be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

A criminal case was registered by the ED in connection with the Bikaner land deal made in 2015 after studying FIRs and charge-sheets filed by the Rajasthan Police on complaints made by the Bikaner tehsil about alleged forgery in the land allotment.

The ED, sources said, shall question Vadra about Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, a firm allegedly connected to him, which purchased the said land in the area.