ED opposes Vadra plea to go to UK for tumour check-up

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi’s husband Robert Vadra on Wednesday claimed in a court here that he has a “small tumour in the large intestine” and sought permission to travel abroad for medical consultation, a plea the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed, claiming he may flee.

The ED, which is investigating a money laundering case linked to the purchase of alleged illegal assets abroad, has put Vadra into more trouble by issuing a summons to him to appear before it on Thursday.

This comes close on the heels of its application in Delhi High Court last Friday when it sought cancellation of Vadra’s anticipatory bail claiming that he was not cooperating with the investigators and his custodial interrogation was necessary to get to the bottom of the case.

The court, which is hearing his plea to fly to the UK and two other countries for seeking a second opinion on his medical condition, has reserved its order for June 3.

The ED said the investigations against him are at a crucial stage. “His custodial interrogation is required and he may flee. He is facing serious charges. His medical condition is merely a pretext to go where laundered money is parked. The medical condition appears to be routine,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, said.

Appearing on behalf of Vadra, senior lawyer K T S Tulsi said that his medical report showed that he has a small tumour in the large intestine.