defence dealer Sanjay Bhandari

Whereabouts of middleman linked to Robert Vadra unknown

Robert Vadra is virtual owner of UK flat, ED tells court

NEW DELHI: In a serious turn in investigations of money laundering against Robert Vadra , the Enforcement Directorate told a Delhi court on Saturday that he is the virtual owner of a flat worth £1.9 million at 12, Bryanston Square in London.The ED made the sensational allegation in a special court of judge Arvind Kumar while seeking to secure an open-ended non-bailable warrant under the Black Money Act against Vadra’s close aide Manoj Arora, who has been absconding after the ED conducted a series of raids on his premises in Delhi. The agency claimed that the London property was purchased using money laundered through Dubai and in violation of the Black Money Act, and said that Arora was crucial to the transaction and, therefore, a key witness.“Vadra was beneficially controlling this property, which was valued at £1.9 million, and not only executing renovation work of this property but also arranging funds for the same,” the agency has alleged.It claimed that the flat was purchased by abscondingfor £1.9 million and sold to a Vadra-controlled firm for the same amount despite incurring expenses of approximately £65,900 on its renovation. Bhandari was booked under the Official Secrets Act in 2016 and was headed for more trouble when he disappeared.It is suspected that Bhandari, who had been restrained from travelling abroad, fled through Nepal . The income tax department has since attached his properties in Delhi and Gurgaon but the whereabouts of the absconding middleman remain a mystery.Arora also went missing last month soon after the ED conducted raids in Delhi and Bengaluru in connection with their investigations against Vadra under the Black Money Act.Unlike other non-bailable warrants, an “open-ended NBW” does not carry a time limit for execution. This would help the agency file for a red corner notice through the Interpol against Arora as they suspect him to have fled the country.Special judge Kumar will hear the matter on Tuesday.Justifying its demand, the ED told the court that Arora failed to appear for questioning despite repeated summons issued to him. It said that Arora’s questioning is essential as he is the key person in the case since he is aware of the overseas undeclared assets of Vadra and was instrumental in arranging funds for such properties.“Bhandari was not the actual owner of the (London) property but it was beneficially owned by Vadra who was incurring expenditure on the renovation of this property,” ED maintained.