https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/enforcement-directorate-argues-for-robert-vadras-custody-in-money-laundering-case/articleshow/68572848.cms

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday produced in court documents purportedly showing agreements between an alleged associate of Robert Vadra and a company over a 2008 petroleum deal, while it sought his custodial interrogation in a money-laundering case.

The special court, meanwhile, extended Vadra’s interim protection from arrest to Wednesday, when the ED is expected to submit evidence justifying its demand.

The agency alleged that Sanjay Bhandari, the absconding arms dealer who is allegedly linked to Vadra, entered into a “contingent contract” seeking kickbacks of $10 million to swing the deal in favor of the company.

The kickbacks were to be paid in two equal installments to Bhandari’s company, people in the know of the investigations told ET.

The ED is probing if the 2008 deal, between state-run Oil & Natural Gas Corporation and Samsung Engineering, was connected to the alleged purchase of half a dozen properties in London for Vadra. According to the agency, a wing of the finance ministry, these properties were purchased by Bhandari’s companies and Vadra’s associates.

The agency also referred to another deal of 2012, to purchase trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force, which is already being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Bhandari among others are under the CBI’s scanner on charges of corruption in the Rs 2,896-crore deal to procure 75 Pilatus PC-7 basic trainer aircraft.

The propeller-driven aircraft were an emergency purchase after the air force training schedule went haywire following the grounding of the entire fleet of the 114 piston-engine HPT-32 planes, after a 2009 crash that killed a pilot.

The Delhi Police registered an FIR under the Official Secrets Act against Bhandari in October 2016. Subsequently, the CBI also began a probe after it was found that Bhandari’s company had allegedly received 7, 50,000 Swiss francs from the Swiss Pilatus company in 2010.

During the hearing on Monday, lawyers for Vadra, KTS Tulsi and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, alleged that the Enforcement agency only has a lust for Vadra’s arrest.

In his response, special prosecutor for the ED, Davinder Pal Singh, said: “Till the time people’s lust for money exists, the lust for their custodial interrogation will also exist.”

Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, has repeatedly and vehemently denied links to any of the foreign properties and association with Bhandari.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Monday asked the ED to file its response to a petition filed by Vadra seeking quashing of the money-laundering case against him. The high court has given the ED two weeks to respond.