Delhi High Court grants Robert Vadra 2 weeks to respond to ED's plea

Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, has been granted two more week by the Delhi High Court to file his reply to the Enforcement Directorate's plea challenging his anticipatory bail granted by a train court in a money laundering case.  

Justice Chander Shekhar granted two weeks' time to Vadra and listed the matter for further hearing on September 26.

Vadra's counsel said he was out of India when the court's notice on the petition was served on him and he has returned on July 11.

Vadra is facing allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square, worth 1.9 million pounds. The case is being probed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Earlier, a Delhi court allowed Vadra to travel abroad for six weeks for a checkup and obtain a second medical opinion on an ailment he is suffering from.

Vadra has appeared before the ED multiple times in connection with the case as also in another criminal money laundering case related to alleged irregularities of land allotment in Rajasthan's Bikaner district.

In this case, the businessman appeared for the 11th time on Tuesday while in the Bikaner case, he has deposed twice before the ED at its Jaipur office.

The ED case against Vadra relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million GBP (British pounds), which is allegedly owned by him.

The agency had told a Delhi court that it has received information about various new properties in London which belong to Vadra. These include two houses--one worth 5 million GBP and the other valued at 4 million GBP, six other flats and more properties.

The agency, meanwhile, appointed a new IO for the case as the incumbent Rajiv Sharma is set to be promoted.

With PTI Inputs