New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has moved the Delhi High Court seeking to cancel the bail plea of Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a money laundering case. Vadra was granted anticipatory bail by a trial court on April 1 on the condition that he must not leave the country without permission and join the investigation whenever needed.
The ED, in its plea, has challenged the trial court order and said that protection would be detrimental for the purpose of carrying out the investigation in the case with a free hand by the investigating officer in the crucial aspects of the case. The case relates to ownership of 1.9 million pounds of assets overseas by Vadra. It pertains to undisclosed foreign assets and entities meant to evade tax. “Because it is trite to say that the anticipatory bail, to some extent, intrudes in the sphere of investigation of crime and that the courts must be cautious and circumspect in exercising such powers of discriminatory nature,” the ED said in its plea.
“It is for the same reason that the relevant factors for grant of anticipatory bail are materially different from the grant of regular bail. ... special judge has passed the impugned order by ignoring the material on record.” The ED told the High Court that Vadra’s questioning is required to unearth the entire source of credit used for the purchase of properties, ascertaining transactions and money laundering. The ED also said that Vadra’s questioning would help the agency to ascertain the role of other key accused persons involved in the commission of offence and the modus operandi. (IANS)
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