Robert Vadra News / Robert Vadra reached ED office, questioning is being done on petro-chemical scam

Robert Vadra News: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra has arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office for questioning. Priyanka Gandhi was also present with him. This questioning is related to the alleged scam related to a petrochemical project to be built in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 2008 and the purchase and sale of an expensive property in London. Robert Vadra's role is being investigated in this case. Let us understand this matter in detail.

What is the case?

This case is related to a petrochemical project started in 2008, which was proposed in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). A government company (PSU) had given the contract to build a part of this project to Samsung Engineering. Samsung hired Dubai-based company Santech International FZC, owned by Sanjay Bhandari, to carry forward this work. Sanjay Bhandari is considered close to Robert Vadra.

Key points:

• December 2008: Samsung got the contract for the project.
• June 2009: Samsung paid Sanjay Bhandari's company Santech International FZC US$4,990,000.
• June 2009: The same month, Sanjay Bhandari bought a luxury property in London's Bryanston Square, registered in the name of Vortex Private Limited.
• Money transfer: Santech transferred about 1.9 million pounds sterling to Vortex's account. Later, all the shares of Vortex were bought by another Dubai-based company, Sky Lite Investments FZE, controlled by C. Thampi. Thampi is also said to be close to Vadra.

Allegations against Robert Vadra

Emails with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) revealed that there were discussions between Sanjay Bhandari, his relatives Sumit Chadha, Manoj Arora, and Robert Vadra regarding this property. The ED claims that Vadra was not only involved in the purchase of this property, but was also interested in its repair and maintenance. They were asking for regular updates for this property.

Property sale and additional expenses

• Sanjay Bhandari spent an additional 65,900 pounds on this property.
• Later this property was sold to Mayfair FZE Sharjah for 1.9 million pounds.

Allegation of 'round tripping'

ED believes that this whole case is of 'round tripping', in which complex financial transactions are done to make illegal money look legitimate.

Its process is as follows:

• Fake contracts: Fake contracts were made in the name of petro-chemical project.
• Gribe transaction: The bribe was shown as 'consultancy fees'.
• Property purchase: Property was purchased in London with this money.
• Maintenance of money: By selling the property, the money was shown as money coming from a legitimate source.

ED investigation and Vadra's denial

ED is investigating London's 10 Bryanston Square property in this case. It is alleged that this property was bought by Sanjay Bhandari through an oil deal, but its real beneficial owner was Robert Vadra. However, Vadra has denied these allegations and said that he has no connection with this property.

Recent action

• Sanjay Bhandari declared fugitive: About a week ago, ED declared Sanjay Bhandari a fugitive economic offender under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
• International transactions: According to ED, there have been many international transactions in this case, and evidence of irregularities in the purchase and sale of property has been found.
• Documentary evidence: According to sources, ED has some documents that point to Vadra's role in this deal.
• Purpose of interrogation

ED now wants to know from Robert Vadra:

• What was his role in this deal?
• Was he the real beneficial owner of this property?
• Was there any irregularity in the contract of the petrochemical project and the purchase and sale of property?