Robert Vadra's interim protection from arrest in money laundering case extended till March 27

A Delhi court on Monday extended Robert Vadra's interim protection from arrest in a money laundering case till March 27. Special judge Arvind Kumar granted the interim relief to Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Senior advocate KTS Tulsi, appearing for Vadra, denied all allegations against him and said that Vadra has not misused the liberty granted to him by the court. Vadra has been alleged of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square, worth 1.9 million pounds.

"Delhi's Patiala House court extends interim bail of Robert Vadra and Manoj Arora till next date of hearing on 27 March. Counsels for Robert Vadra and Manoj Arora concluded their arguments. ED to submit their arguments on the next date of hearing," the news agency ANI reported.

Delhi's Patiala House court extends interim bail of Robert Vadra & Manoj Arora till next date of hearing on 27 March. Counsels for Robert Vadra & Manoj Arora concluded their arguments. ED to submit their arguments on next date of hearing. pic.twitter.com/fDx0PH3It3

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019

Meanwhile, in a separate development in Delhi High Court, the Enforcement Directorate has opposed Vadra's plea seeking quashing of the money laundering case in which he was questioned by the probe agency.

The ED contended that the plea of Vadra was not maintainable as he "wilfully suppressed" material facts from the court, adding that it was an abuse of process of law. When he feared that "law will catch him, he challenged the PMLA provisions", it stated.

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A bench of justices Hima Kohli and Vinod Goel asked the probe agency to file its response in the form of an affidavit regarding the maintainability of two separate but similar petitions by Vadra and his close aide Manoj Arora within two weeks. The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 2.

In his plea, Vadra has sought to declare various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 as ultra vires or unconstitutional. Those provisions include Sections 3 (offence of money laundering), 17 (search and seizure), 19 (power to arrest), 24 (burden of proof), 44 (offences triable by special courts) and 50 (powers of authorities regarding summons, production of documents and to give evidence, etc).

(With inputs from agencies)