Live updates: Robert Vadra leaves ED office after 5 hours of questioning

ANI photos

NEW DELHI: After nearly five hours of questioning, businessman Robert Vadra left the Enforcement Directorate office on Wednesday night. This is the first time that he appeared before the probe agency in connection with money laundering case.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law reached ED`s office in central Delhi`s Jamnagar House along with his wife and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi at 3.45 pm.

The case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property -- located at 12, Bryanston Square -- worth 1.9 million pounds, which is allegedly owned by Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

In a major relief, Delhi's Patiala House Court on Saturday granted Vadra interim protection from arrest till February 16. Meanwhile, a Delhi court Wednesday extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Manoj Arora, a close aide of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, till February 16 in the case.

06 February 2019

22:25 IST

Robert Vadra has been called in again by the ED on Thursday. 

22:21 IST

Briefing media persons, Vadra's lawyer Suman Jyoti Khaitan said, “Robert Vadra has not done anything wrong. This government wants to harass him. He, on his own, went to (Jaipur) court and said- I`m going to appear voluntarily before ED. Give me a date I will appear. Today, he has appeared on his own, without any summons. They probably wanted to harass him for political vendetta.”

21:45 IST

Robert Vadra leaves from the Enforcement Directorate office after questioning in connection with a money laundering case. 

Delhi: Robert Vadra leaves from the Enforcement Directorate office after questioning in connection with a money laundering case. pic.twitter.com/FtSidnpGJ8

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2019

19:51 IST

The probe agency also asked Vadra to write a statement on Sanjay Bhandhari. "Give it to us in writing that you don't know Sanjay Bhandhari," said ED.

So far, Vadra has been writting down all the answers himself.

19:43 IST

ED warns Vadra of putting forward wrong statements: "There will be legal proceedings on false statements," says ED.

19:41 IST

Vadra refuted owning any London propeties, during ED questioning. The probe agency has now asked him to write this down in a statement.

19:35 IST

ED will soon begin the second round of questioning. According to sources, there'll be a total of four rounds of questioning. So far, Vadra has been giving very short answers to all the questions.

If he answers all the questions, the interrogation will end today, added sources. However, the questioning session will continue another day if the ED is unsatisfied with Vadra answers.

19:32 IST

ED completes first round of questioning Vadra. A team of seven ED members, including Deputy Director Rajiv Sharma and Assistant Director ML Sharma and five other officials, quizzed him. A list of over 40 questions were prepared in advance, top sources told Zee Media. 

READ: Who owns 2 homes and 6 flats in London? ED props 40 questions to Robert Vadra

17:41 IST

Robert Vadra's statement is currently being recorded at ED office. A team of Enforcement Directorate, led by Joint Director and accompanied by Deputy Director and five other officers is questioning Robert Vadra, in connection with a money laundering case.

16:56 IST

Priyanka drove straight to her 10 Janpath residence of her mother Sonia Gandhi and then walked over to neighbouring AICC headquarters where Congress workers shouted slogans hailing her. "Priyanka you fight on, we are with you!" Mediapersons surrounded her and piled questions but she walked straight into the room allotted to her in the Congress headquarters.

#WATCH: Congress General Secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives at Congress Headquarters in Delhi. Earlier today she had accompanied her husband Robert Vadra to Enforcement Directorate Office & left soon after. pic.twitter.com/2RDbaHG5JV

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2019

16:16 IST

Delhi: Robert Vadra inside the Enforcement Directorate office, to appear in connection with a money laundering case pic.twitter.com/HIiwLYpMou

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2019

16:14 IST

Sources told Zee Media that Vadra is inside the Enforcement Directorate office and questioning will soon commence.

16:12 IST

Priyanka Gandhi has now reached the party headquarters in Delhi 

Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh east Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at the Congress Headquarters in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/e4yjVFRa3g

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2019

16:11 IST

Vadra, arrived at the ED`s office located in central Delhi`s Jamnagar House at 3.45 pm. He was accompanied by his wife and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

After dropping him off, Priyanka left the ED office.

16:06 IST

#WATCH Robert Vadra accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived at the Enforcement Directorate office to appear in connection with a money laundering case. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra left soon after. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/WI8qlLtF0X

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2019

Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanied Robert Vadra to the Enforcement Directorate, where he reached to appear in connection with a money laundering case pic.twitter.com/J08d6305Uy

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2019

16:06 IST

A Delhi court o Wednesday extended till February 16 the interim protection from arrest granted to Manoj Arora, a close aide of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, in a money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) requested Special Judge Arvind Kumar that as the next date of hearing in Vadra's case was fixed for February 16, this case too be posted for the same date. 

16:05 IST

Robert Vadra, who was granted interim protection from arrest till February 16, is scheduled to appear at 4 pm in front of the ED. 

Vadra's lawyer KTS Tulsi told the court that his client will join the Enforcement Directorate's investigation in money laundering case.

During the course of the hearing on Saturday, the ED had told the court that it had learnt about more overseas properties related to Vadra and hence, said he should join the probe. It also said Vadra and his associates got kickbacks in the petroleum deal inked in 2009.