A Delhi court has granted interim bail till February 16 to Vadra in a money-laundering case and asked him to appear before the Enforcement Directorate and cooperate in the investigation. Vadra, who is currently abroad, had last Friday filed an anticipatory bail application in the case linked to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds.
Patra alleged that the kickbacks roundtripped through various companies formed by him and his aides were used to purchase properties in the England capital. “The 12, Bryanston Square mansion worth 1.9 million pounds was bought by Vortex company. Hundreds of crores were spent to just refurbish its basement on which the foundation of corruption is built,” he said quoting an e-mail trail in a press conference here.
Trading more charges, Patra said that the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi also has ownerhip of a plush property in Delhi’s Malcha Marg which was first owned by one Jagish Sharma, a special aide of Vadra.
Patra also pointed out the role of Dubai-based NRI businessman, C.C. Thampi, who has been booked by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, in falicitating Vadra’s money trail.
Patra said Vadra got the leeway to was during UPA 1. He also took names of Sanjay Bhandari, CC Thampi and Jagdish Sharma who were complicit in the devious activities. The BJP leader asked Rahul Gandhi to come clean on the entire matter involving his sister's husband.
Vadra's counsel informed the court that he will return to Delhi from London on Wednesday and would co-operate in the probe.
He has denied the allegations and accused the BJP government of a "baseless witch-hunt" against him for four years but the cases are a political fodder for the BJP to target the Gandhis.