ED takes Robert Vadra’s name for the first time in money laundering case

New Delhi – ED on Tuesday named Robert Vadra for the first time in the money laundering case against Sanjay Bhandari.

The Enforcement Directorate alleged that Robert Vadra renovated and also stayed in a property in London acquired through money laundering. This information has been given regarding the laundering case against alleged middleman Sanjay Bhandari.

Bhandari had fled to Britain in 2016. The British government, acting on a legal request by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had approved his extradition to India in January this year. ED and CBI are investigating charges of money laundering and tax evasion against Sanjay Bhandari for allegedly holding undisclosed assets abroad.

This is the first time that ED has named Vadra in this case. The ED issued a statement saying it has filed a fresh chargesheet against Dubai-based NRI businessman Cheruvathur Chakutty Thampi and UK national Sumit Chaddha in this case.

Let us tell you that in this case, Thampi was arrested in January 2020 and the ED had alleged that he was a close associate of Vadra. Thampi is currently out on bail. Sanjay Bhandari has various undisclosed foreign income and assets, including the following properties at No. 12 Bryanston Square, London and 6 Grosvenor Hill Court, London.

The ED alleged, “As per the provisions of PMLA, these properties are acquired from black money and CC Thampi and Sumit Chadha have been found involved in concealing and using the same. Investigation found that Thampi is a close associate of Robert Vadra. Robert Vadra not only renovated the above property at 12 Bryanston Square, London through Sumit Chadha, but also lived in the same.”

“Robert Vadra and Thampi purchased a large tract of land in Faridabad and entered into financial transactions with each other,” the ED claimed.

Let us tell you here that ED has already interrogated Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s husband Vadra and he has denied doing anything wrong.

The ED said the Delhi court on December 22 took cognizance of the supplementary prosecution complaint filed under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in November.

Official sources told the media that after taking cognizance of the charge sheet, the court also issued summons to Thampi and Chadha. It also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Chadha, who has not yet joined the investigation despite being issued summons by the ED. Bhandari’s niece Pooja Chaddha is married to UK citizen Sumit Chaddha.