The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, for questioning in connection with the Sanjay Bhandari case.

ANI reported, citing sources, that Vadra has informed the central agency that he would not appear today and sought a fresh date. 

Sanjay Bhandari’s ‘Fugitive’ Status 

Earlier in April, Sanjay Bhandari, an arms dealer, had challenged the ED request to label him a ‘fugitive’ in a black money case. He argued before a Delhi Court that his residence in the UK is lawful, as the London High Court had rejected his extradition to India. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Bhandari, challenged the ED’s plea to designate his client as a ‘fugitive’. 

Referring to other rulings, the advocate said that Bhandari’s stay in the UK could not be deemed unlawful, and that he has a legitimate right to reside there. As per ANI, in February, the HC of Justice in London ruled in favor of Bhandari’s appeal against extradition to India, citing concerns over his safety in Tihar prison. 

Earlier, the UK High Court also rejected the Indian government’s petition seeking permission to challenge its decision in Britain’s Supreme Court.

Gurugram Land Case

On April 17, after the ED interrogated Vadra in connection with the Gurugram land case, the businessman said that the agency was asking him questions that he had already answered in 2019.

“There was no new question; all the questions were repeated from 2019. If tomorrow were not a public holiday, I would have to celebrate my birthday in the ED office. “Tomorrow is Good Friday, and I will celebrate my birthday with my family; otherwise, they will keep calling me,” Vadra had told the media.

According to ANI, Vadra had appeared before the agency for the third consecutive day in response to the ED summons. He slammed the action as a “political vendetta”, accusing the government of misusing investigative agencies to target opposition voices.