Rajasthan HC Extends Stay On Vadra's Arrest, Asks Him To Cooperate With ED

The Rajasthan High Court on Monday extended the stay on the arrest of Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and directed him to cooperate in an ED probe into a complaint of alleged money laundering against a firm linked to him.

Justice P S Bhati posted the hearing for March 15 after Vadra's lawyer gave an assurance in the court that he will cooperate with the inquiry.

“Vadra has appeared before the ED on February 12 in pursuance of the direction of the court and has been cooperating in the inquiry”, said his counsel Kuldeep Mathur in the court.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons Robert Vadra to appear tomorrow for questioning in money laundering case linked to purchase of his London based property. Vadra is on interim bail till March 2 & has been directed by court to appear before ED whenever he is called. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/XNLLAE7SdN

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019

The court then deferred the hearing in the matter and said the stay on arrest of Vadra without court's permission will continue.

During the last hearing on January 21, the court had removed the clause of “No Coercive Action” against Vadra during inquiry but had refused to vacate the stay on his arrest.

The ED had moved the court seeking vacation of the stay order on the grounds that there was neither an FIR lodged in the matter nor any accused named.

The agency had issued summonses to Robert Vadra and his mother and firm's partner Maureen Vadra for the third time in November last year but none of them had appeared before the ED and instead moved the high court seeking “No Coercive Action” order and stay on arrest.

Robert Vadra, who is married to Priyanka Gandhi, Congress general secretary for east Uttar Pradesh, said he would not be celebrating his marriage anniversary today as a mark of respect to the killed CRPF jawans.

No Anniversary post or celebrations in respect for the soldiers martyred.
My heartfelt condolences for the families. We salute you. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/C4GE7xB2Ee

— Robert Vadra (@irobertvadra) February 18, 2019

(With agency inputs)