ACCESSED: Sensational details of contradictions arising from Robert Vadra and his associates' questioning by ED

Congress president Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in connection with cases of alleged land grab in Delhi-NCR and Bikaner, besides the purchase of a property in London. Amid the many summons issued to him in multiple alleged scams, Republic Media Network has accessed sensational and crucial evidences submitted by the Enforcement Directorate from the questioning of Robert Vadra in the money-laundering case, arising from which the agency has sought challenge Vadra's application to be allowed to travel abroad. 

The ED has questioned Robert Vadra on various links including with CC Thampi and Sumit Chadha in the money-laundering cases from the Bikaner land deal and his London properties. 

As per documents accessed by Republic, the statements made by Robert Vadra during various sessions of questioning between February 2019 to March 2019 extensively contradict the statements produced by his associates and councils during the questioning in the case over a period of time.

READ | Robert Vadra Gets Permission To Travel To the Netherlands And US For Medical Check-up, Even As ED Issued Him Fresh Summons

Here are the sensational details of the questioning and the contradictions that then arise:

1st contradiction | Whether Robert Vadra knows a Puja Chadha:

On February 7, 2019, Vadra refused to answer the question, saying that he "cannot categorically state". Later, on March 8, 2019, Vadra stated that he does not know Chadha.

2nd contradiction | Whether Robert Vadra knows Sumit Chadha, who is a relative of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, regarding properties in London: 

Robert Vadra during the questioning on February 7, said that he has not met Sumit Chadha. However, in a contradiction, his associates said on January 14 that Vadra met Chadha through Sanjay Bhandari

3rd Contradiction | Whether Robert Vadra knows Dubai-based businessman CC Thampi through whom the ED suspects kickbacks were routed in a petroleum deal in 2009:

During the questioning on February 6, Robert Vadra had told the probe agency that he met Thampi on board an Emirates flight. However, on April 6, 2017, Thampi has told ED that he met Vadra through Madhavan, who was UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's PA.

4th Contradiction | Whether Robert Vadra has any knowledge about 12 Bryanston Square (BSQ).

On February 7, Vadra said that he never stayed at the London residence. However, contradicting him, on April 6, 2017, Thampi had told ED that Vadra has stayed at 12 BSQ

5th Contradiction | Emails from Sumit Chadha and Puja Chadha:

On February 6, 2019, Robert Vadra agreed that a particular email Id belonged to him. On the next day, however, in response to his associates' statement that he would be able to explain certain emails written to him, Vadra denied that the mails in question - which Manoj Arora said had been written by Sumit Chadha to Vadra - were written to him.

6th Contradiction | Whether Robert Vadra knows a Vipul Beriwala, who the ED suspects to be one of the key players in the money-laundering scam.

On February 7, Vadra denied of knowing Vipul Beriwala. However, on the contrary, Vadra's close aide Manoj Arora on January 14, told ED that while he does not Vipul Beriwala, if Beriwala has sought an appointment with 'RV', the contact would be in the latter's phone. Beriwala's contact is in Vadra's phone.

7th Contradiction | Whether RV stands for Robert Vadra in emails:

During the interrogation on February 2019, Robert Vadra said that he is not known as RV and people fo not refer to him as RV. However, Manoj Arora on January 1, said that MRV in his mobile contact refers to Mr Robert Vadra.

8th Contradiction | Whether Robert Vadra knows Jagdish Sharma, who is a Congress leader and is known to be his close confidante:

On February 6, Robert Vadra said that Jagdish Sharma "hovers" around him, follows him and tries to associate with him and has never worked for him. On the contrary, on December 8, 2018, Jagdish Sharma told ED that he is close to Gandhi family but he is closest to Vadra. That he does political profiling of Vadra and advises him on matters is what Sharma told the probe agency. 

9th Contradiction | Whether Robert Vadra is known as "Sahab":

On February 7, Vadra told ED that his subordinates refer to him as "Boss". Later on March 8, he said that he is not referred to as "Robert Sahab". On the contrary, on 8th December 2018, an Anuj Nautiyal in his statement has stated that Jagdish Sharma has told him that his (Sharma's) "boss" had invested in the foreign properties in London.  Furthermore, Jagdish Sharma has stated that he refers to Vadra as "Sahab". On January 16, Manoj Arora said that Robert Vadra is referred to as 'Robert Sahab' and 'RV'.

Moreover, he has also denied meeting Sanjay Bhandari, saying that he cannot recollect having met him or travelling with him. 

READ | 'Unnecessary Drama', Says Robert Vadra Putting Up Unruffled Front As He Answers ED Summons

This development has come a day after Robert Vadra was granted permission to travel to the Netherlands and the United States of America for a medical check-up. His request to be able to travel to London was denied, however, with the ED opposing it. The ED is probing multiple cases which involve Robert Vadra including Bikaner Land deal, London properties and land deal in Haryana's Gurugram. He was questioned in connection with the London properties on multiple occasions earlier in February, during when his wife, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stood by him to show solidarity. The relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property located at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million GBP (British pounds), which is allegedly owned by him. 

In another scam, the ED registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in September 2015, alleging that Vadra-owned Sky Light Hospitality had bought a piece of land in Bikaner, at a very low price and sold it at an extremely high premium through illegal transactions.