Photo: PTI
Lead Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Robert Vadra,
Vadra’s claim was contradicted by ED’s attorney. Attorney NK Matta, Special Prosecutor (SPP) for ED, indicated that Robert Vadra was instructed to produce his address to the court before leaving India, adding that even after returning to India he had not given details of places that he visited in the UK.
“ED had no objection on 22, 23 and 24 August to the amended itinerary (which included a stopover in Dubai for 4 days) that we submitted, Singhvi argued.
On Monday, the court had expressed its displeasure with businessman Robert Vadra’s statement that he was in Dubai due to a medical emergency in August this year when he traveled to the UK via the UAE, saying it was a Violation of the terms of the license granted to him.
The court had also issued a notice of appearances asking Vadra, husband of Congress Chair Priyanka Gandhi, why his time deposit receipt should not be forfeited because he had breached the terms of the permit he had been granted.
The court had granted Robert Vadra permission on August 12 to travel to the United Kingdom for four weeks via the United Arab Emirates, Spain and Italy. The court had found that the flight and hotel details mentioned in Robert Vadra’s said undertaking clearly indicated that he would be traveling to the UK via the UAE as permitted by that court.
Vadra said in his affidavit that he stayed in the United Arab Emirates before continuing his journey because he had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his left leg and had been advised to rest adequately between long-haul flights.
During the said trip, he had to stop due to inflammation and pain in his left leg and seek medical advice on August 27 in Dubai at the LGA Medical Facilitation Center dedicated to medical emergencies for travelers in Dubai, where he received further medical treatment Vadra’s lawyer argued that this was recommended.
Vadra stated in his affidavit that his stoppage in the United Arab Emirates during the said trip to the UK was not with the intention of violating any condition imposed, nor was there any attempt to deceive them, but because of medical necessity.
Robert Vadra is currently on bail in a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
