ED questions Robert Vadra for 9 hours in Haryana land deal case

India Today

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday interrogated businessman Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, for nine hours in connection with a money laundering case linked to a land deal in Haryana.

Transcript

00:00On the day that the ED's charge-sheeted Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, Robert Wadra was also summoned, was also questioned today in another case.

00:08The ED has grilled Robert Wadra for nine hours. He's been called again for questioning tomorrow.

00:13Remember, this is to do with the 2008 Haryana land deal case in which Robert Wadra has been questioned.

00:20There are questions here about really this land deal and allegations of impropriety to the tune of 50 crores plus.

00:28Nine hours, Robert Wadra has been grilled. He, of course, cried political conspiracy this morning when we spoke to him.

00:34And you can see these images as he emerged out of the ED headquarters, refused to really give any statement to the media.

00:41But tomorrow again, Robert Wadra has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate.

00:46It's because of these images on the same day as Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi being charge-sheeted that the Congress is crying foul here,

00:54saying that one family is being targeted, that the Enforcement Directorate is going after one family.

01:00Robert Wadra in trouble for a 2008 case.

01:05And Amit Bharatwaj is joining us live from the ED office.

01:08Amit, quick update from you. Robert Wadra has left.

01:11What have you picked up from your sources on his questioning?

01:13Okay, let's get you a report first, filed by Amit.

01:23The moment Robert Wadra emerged from the ED headquarters.

01:26So, right there, Robert Wadra leaving the Enforcement Directorate office after nearly eight hours of questioning.

01:42So, in the morning, he came around 11 in the morning to the Enforcement Directorate office

01:46and had left around 1.30 in the noon for a lunch break of an hour.

01:52And after another round of nearly four hours of questioning.

01:57...which have answered before are being answered again.

02:00It's no issue. Nothing to hide. Everything is answered. Everything will be answered again.

02:06The prosecution complaint has been filed against Rahul and Sonia.

02:10Sir, what do you want to say, sir?

02:13Side of the way, side of the way.

02:15Robert Wadra making his way out.

02:44Brief message to the media where he says he's cooperating with the agencies.

02:48Remember, he's been summoned again for questioning tomorrow.

02:51Let me just get in a quick reaction from Mumtaz Patel on this.

02:54On the same day as the ED charge sheet in Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi,

02:59you have Robert Wadra Mumtaz being called in for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate

03:03in a 2008 land deal case.

03:05Question today will be questioned tomorrow as well.

03:08Okay, so firstly going back to the other case, the National Herald case.

03:14You know, Young India Private Limited is a non-profit company.

03:18Now, you are, like I said, there is a technical scrutiny, but it has been definitely used as a political vendetta.

03:28When you come to Robert Wadra, it's a 2008 case.

03:32He has been summoned enough times.

03:34He has given thousands of documents.

03:36What is taking ED so long?

03:39Why are you questioning him again and again and again?

03:42The timing of it, of course, if you had anything against him, why haven't you convicted him by now?

03:49Okay, okay, that's a question that you're raising tomorrow again, Robert Wadra.

03:552008 case, yes, that's come back to haunt him now.

03:58And at this point, the Congress saying, how is it on the same day all of this is happening where one family is being targeted?

04:04Thank you, Mumtaz Patel, for joining us here on India Today with your view on all that's playing out right now.

04:10Dramatic development spelling more and more trouble right now for the Congress High Command,

04:14for Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Robert Wadra there has been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on the very same day.

04:21This is, in fact, in connection with a money laundering probe, much like Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.

04:27In the National Herald case, the allegation against them is money laundering.

04:30Here, too, against Robert Wadra, the allegation is of money laundering.

04:34It's linked to a land deal in Haryana, the Shikhopur land deal.

04:38Robert Wadra, on his part, has dismissed all of the allegations, labelling it as expected as part of a political vendetta.

04:46He claims he's always raised his voice for the public and that's why he is being targeted by agencies which are being misused.

04:52But what's the allegation against him?

04:54Wadra is accused of money laundering in a 2008 land deal and he'd skipped the first summons, which was issued on April 8th.

05:01Here's what the ED says, Wadra's company purchased a 3.5 acre plot.

05:06This was in Gurgaon, Shikhopur area and they purchased this from an other property group for 7.5 crores in February 2008.

05:17So, remember that number, 7.5 crores.

05:19Wadra's company then sold that land for 58 crores to DLF.

05:24So, look at the difference really in that sum.

05:277.5 crores to 58 crores.

05:29That land was sold to DLF.

05:31So, the agency suspects that the proceeds from this transaction are part of a money laundering scheme.

05:36And so, they're investigating that money trail of where all of that money went.

05:39How was it from 7.5 crores?

05:41It went up to 58 crores.

05:43That's an increase of 700%.

05:46And if you're wondering of the time frame, five months, Robert Wadra bought that property and sold it off.

05:53So, no matter of five months, from 7 crores, it rose right up to 58 crores.

05:57So, this is what the ED is looking into.

06:01Mr. Wadra, what's your word on the allegations that have been delivered against you?

06:06Totally misuse of the agencies.

06:08I speak for the minorities.

06:10I speak for the people of the country.

06:12And they misuse the agencies.

06:14And trying to quiet me down, stop me.

06:16They stopped Rahul in the parliament and they stopped me on the ground.

06:21Are you dubbing it as a political consequence?

06:23100%.

06:24Everybody knows.

06:25Everybody knows.

06:28So, let's give you a quick timeline of what this 2008 land deal is about.

06:33So, this was a 3.5 acre parcel of land in Gurugram that Wadra bought.

06:38This was in February 2008.

06:40So, like I said, he bought this for 7.5 crores.

06:43Let's quickly pull out those details as well.

06:45Now, after that, the title was transferred to Wadra within 24 hours of purchase.

06:51So, it was directly given to him.

06:54And that's why when that amount, in fact, was given to Robert Wadra, he then sold it to DLF for 58 crores.

07:02So, 7.5 crores to 58 crores.

07:0451 crores right now is what they're looking into.

07:07Is what, in fact, the ED is looking into.

07:10About whether this is money laundering, where did this money go?

07:14That, at this point, is something that the ED is investigating.

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