Relentless political witch-hunt: Vadra on fresh ED summons

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SME Times News Bureau | 05 Dec, 2018
Congress President Rahul Gandhis brother-in-law Robert Vadra on Wednesday termed the fresh Enforcement Directorate summons issued to him in a land scam case in Rajasthan as a relentless "political witch-hunt".

"The political witch-hunt carries on unceasingly with government departments clearly operating on an agenda to besmirch my dignity and reputation," Vadra's statement said, claiming that he was being asked for the same set of documents, which has already been furnished before.

"It is indeed strange that I was asked for the very same documents once again even though they had already been furnished over the last few years.

"In fact it is even stranger that I was sent another summons within 24 hours without the agency even perusing the latest set of 600 documents supplied to them.

"My lawyer has been compelled to appear in Jaipur once more today (Wednesday)(no surprise that this is just two days before the polling in Rajasthan).

"The authorities know perfectly well that there is no case to proceed against me," he said.

Vadra claimed the summons were aimed at distracting the public and said: "This is nothing but a politically motivated, malicious and baseless prosecution."

The summons were issued in connection with an ongoing probe into the 2012 alleged scam in the purchase of land in Kolayat area of Bikaner.

According to the ED, Vadra-owned Skylight Hospitality had purchased 69.55 hectares of land for Rs 72 lakh and then sold it to Allegeny Finlease for Rs 5.15 crore, earning a profit of Rs 4.43 crore.

The agency registered a criminal case under the Money Laundering Act in 2015, taking cognizance of a case filed by the Rajasthan Police following forgery allegations.