NEW DELHI: Richard Vadra, estranged brother of Priyanka Gandhi''s husband Robert Vadra, reportedly committed suicide in Moradabad on Friday.

The tragedy comes two years after the Vadra family lost Michelle â€” Robert and Richard''s sister â€” in a road accident on the Delhi-Jaipur highway in April, 2001. No details are available on what happened in Moradabad. Robert Vadra refused to comment on his brother''s death when contacted by TNN.

In January 2002, Robert Vadra placed ads in newspapers, declaring that he had nothing to do with his father, Rajinder, and brother, Richard, and that any attempts by them to gain favours by pretending to act on his behalf should be disregarded. The notice was issued on Robert''s behalf by advocate Arun Bhardwaj.

The Congress directed all its CMs, PCC bosses and CLP leaders to let it be known to "one and all" that Robert Vadra had severed ties with his father and brother, and "no favour sought by them in Robert''s name should be entertained."

It is believed that Robert''s decision to snap ties with his father and brother followed reports that Richard had approached a Congress CM over a contract for a major project, using Priyanka''s name.

Another Congress leader claimed that Rajinder Vadra had called on him for a favour and sent his visiting card with "father-in-law of Priyanka" boldly pencilled on it. While Robert and Priyanka attended Michelle''s funeral and shared the family''s grief, no attempt was apparently made to resolve the family feud.

While Robert is the proprietor of Artex Exports, through which he sells costume jewellery, Richard ran an independent export business. Rajinder Vadra, separated from his wife, Maureen (nee McDonagh) is an exporter of metal handicrafts and operates from Amar Colony.