Vadra contests ED’s plea for bail cancellation in HC

New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANS) The legal team of Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi, here on Tuesday countered the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea in the Delhi High Court for cancellation his anticipatory bail, stating he had always cooperated with the agency.

At the court of Justice Chander Shekhar, Vadra's counsels said in the absence of any material to support allegations against Vadra, the ED was conducting a "fishing and roving inquiry".

The case relates to alleged money laundering for purchase of a 1.9 million pound properrty in London by Vadra, husband of Priyanka Gandhi, Congress General Secretary.

Vadra's counsels said the ED's apprehensions that he would flee the country was baseless as Vadra had returned voluntarily after reading press reports that the ED was investigating him.

Vadra had volunteered to appear before the ED even though he was yet to receive a summon, said a counsel. The ED could not present before the court a single instance of non-cooperation on Vadra's part, he said.

Vadra's legal team also argued there was no risk of Vadra tampering with evidence as the ED had seized every last document pertaining to him. No specific allegation had been made to suggest that Vadra in any way tried or actually succeeded in tampering with any evidence or witness, it claimed.

Vadra had no properties abroad nor any beneficial ownership of any property outside India, it said.

Responding to allegations, it claimed, Vadra had never received any 'kickback' for any 'deal'. The ED was trying to create "prejudice in the mind of court and the public against Vadra", it said.

The case was being heard in the court of Justice Chander Shekhar where a plea for cancellation of Vadra's anticipatory bail plea was being heard. The case relates to alleged money laundering in the purchase of a London based property worth 1.9 million pounds.