Robert Vadra moves court for anticipatory bail

Apprehending arrest, Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, has moved a Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail in case of money laundering being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate.

The application has been filed in Delhi's Patiala House Court. It is likely to come up for hearing before Special Judge Arvind Kumar on Saturday. The case related to the alleged acquisition of overseas properties by Vadra through the money arranged by his associates.

Manoj Arora, an associate of Vadra had earlier been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate. He is alleged to be an employee of Vadra's firm Skylight Hospitality LLP. He was being investigated on charges of money laundering for the purchase of London properties worth 1.9 million pounds allegedly owned by Vadra.

The money laundering case came to be lodged after Income Tax department was probing allegations of black money against absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.

In his plea, Vadra sought relief as interim protection from arrest has been granted to Arora by the court on January 11.

He urged the court to issue directions to the Enforcement Directorate to release him immediately in case of an arrest in the case registered in 2017.

Among the grounds cited by Vadra for pre-arrest bail are that he was being targeted and was being subjected to false prosecution which has a "colour of political witch hunt".

He also contended that he was a law abiding citizen and the case was "nothing but a political vendetta".

Vadra also submitted that he was socially active and had strong roots in society. Being a family man, there was no chance for him to abscond.