Benami London home: Subramanian Swamy asks ED to expedite probe against Robert Vadra
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 15:25
![Benami London home: Subramanian Swamy asks ED to expedite probe against Robert Vadra]()
Beijing: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to speed up the inquiry against Robert Vadra over allegations that he has acquired a "benami" property in London.
"I think the case is already under investigation by the ED and it is only a matter of time before a case is registered for summoning of Vadra", Swamy, who is here while on his way to Kailash Manasarovar yatra in Tibet, said.
"There is no doubt Vadra has property in London through benaamis," he said referring to reports in the media today that the government has begun a new investigation against Vadra to determine if a controversial arms dealer bought a "benami" or proxy-owned mansion in London for him in 2009.
Vadra's legal firm has denied that he owned the London property directly or indirectly. It also denied Vadra has any business ties with an arms dealer or his aide.
First Published: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 15:25
http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/benami-london-home-subramanian-swamy-asks-ed-to-expedite-probe-against-robert-vadra_1890451.html
'Robert Vadra's home' in UK: Sonia Gandhi dares govt to launch probe
Arunav Sinha| TNN | May 31, 2016, 12.43 PM ISTNEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday dared the Modi government to launch a probe into the alleged links of her son-in-law Robert Vadrawith arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
"Everyday they are coming up with some allegations. It is a conspiracy. It's a part of Congress-mukta Bharat agenda" Sonia told reporters in Rae Bareli.
"If there is even an iota of truth in the allegations (levelled on the Congress), then a neutral and fair probe should be constituted, so that the real picture can come to the fore (doodh ka doodh aur paani ka paani ho jaayegaa)," Sonia said amidst loud cheers from her party workers, who had assembled for the inauguration of a new nagar panchayat building in Dalmau, located almost 30 kilometres from the Rae Bareli district headquarters.
"I've never seen anything like this, Modiji is a PM and not a shehenshah(king)," Sonia said when asked about Modi government's celebration of its completing two years in power.
Sharpening her attack on the Centre, the Rae Bareli MP said, "At a time when the country is staring at drought, poverty and the farmers are worried, this type of show is not right and totally uncalled for."
A probe by the income tax department into the transactions of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari has trained the spotlight on his alleged links with Robert Vadra , especially with regard to the ownership of a house in central London.
Sources said papers seized by the I-T department during searches last month on Bhandari's premises revealed a trail of emails between Vadra and his assistant on the one hand and the arms dealer's aide Sumit Chadha on the other regarding the purchase of the London house for approximately Rs 19 crore in 2009. There are emails also regarding renovation work carried out on the property before it was sold in June 2010. Responding to TOI's queries, Vadra's legal firm denied that he owned the London property directly or indirectly. It also denied Vadra had any business ties with Bhandari or Chadha. Our clients wish to categorically and unquivocally state that they do not own, directly or indi rectly, any house described by you as House No.12, Ellerton House, Bryanston Square, London," Robert Vadra's legal firm said.
The firm's response steered clear of spelling out whether Bhandari and Chadha were known to Vadra but strongly denied they had business ties. "Our clients have no business relations with Sanjay Bhandari. Our clients further state that they have not entered into any transaction of a financial nature with Sanjay Bhandari or Chadha," the law firm said even as it alleged that its "clients are being made targets of an unjustified persecution and witch-hunt by false leakages by the government".
Sources expect more details on Vadra's alleged equations with Bhandari to emerge as the probe against the defence dealer gathers momentum.
Bhandari, known for his connections across the influence spectrum and with a rising reputation as a middleman, came under the I-T department's scanner in connection with the probe launched in 2015 against shell companies which created fake entries to route black money to political parties and passed off illicit contributions as legitimate ones.
Sources said the I-T department had gathered enough evidence to launch Bhandari's prosecution for tax evasion -something which will provide the basis for the Enforcement Directorate to probe him for alleged money laundering under the tough Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The PR firm engaged by Bhandari did not respond to questions from TOI when contacted.
Vadra has been mired in controversies since his controversial land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan, transacted when Congress was in power in the two states, came to light before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, giving BJP campaign fodder. The spotlight on his equations with Bhandari comes in the immediate aftermath of the verdict of an Italian court confirming that AgustaWestland had paid kickbacks during the UPA government's tenure to swing the order for 12 choppers for India's VVIP squadron.
The suggestion of a fresh scam involving Vadra should inconvenience Congress also because of its timing, it comes just after the fresh evidence, in the form of defeats in assembly polls earlier this month, of its steady diminution.
Read this story in Marathi.
(With inputs from agencies
"Everyday they are coming up with some allegations. It is a conspiracy. It's a part of Congress-mukta Bharat agenda" Sonia told reporters in Rae Bareli.
"If there is even an iota of truth in the allegations (levelled on the Congress), then a neutral and fair probe should be constituted, so that the real picture can come to the fore (doodh ka doodh aur paani ka paani ho jaayegaa)," Sonia said amidst loud cheers from her party workers, who had assembled for the inauguration of a new nagar panchayat building in Dalmau, located almost 30 kilometres from the Rae Bareli district headquarters.
"I've never seen anything like this, Modiji is a PM and not a shehenshah(king)," Sonia said when asked about Modi government's celebration of its completing two years in power.
Sharpening her attack on the Centre, the Rae Bareli MP said, "At a time when the country is staring at drought, poverty and the farmers are worried, this type of show is not right and totally uncalled for."
A probe by the income tax department into the transactions of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari has trained the spotlight on his alleged links with Robert Vadra , especially with regard to the ownership of a house in central London.
Sources said papers seized by the I-T department during searches last month on Bhandari's premises revealed a trail of emails between Vadra and his assistant on the one hand and the arms dealer's aide Sumit Chadha on the other regarding the purchase of the London house for approximately Rs 19 crore in 2009. There are emails also regarding renovation work carried out on the property before it was sold in June 2010. Responding to TOI's queries, Vadra's legal firm denied that he owned the London property directly or indirectly. It also denied Vadra had any business ties with Bhandari or Chadha. Our clients wish to categorically and unquivocally state that they do not own, directly or indi rectly, any house described by you as House No.12, Ellerton House, Bryanston Square, London," Robert Vadra's legal firm said.
The firm's response steered clear of spelling out whether Bhandari and Chadha were known to Vadra but strongly denied they had business ties. "Our clients have no business relations with Sanjay Bhandari. Our clients further state that they have not entered into any transaction of a financial nature with Sanjay Bhandari or Chadha," the law firm said even as it alleged that its "clients are being made targets of an unjustified persecution and witch-hunt by false leakages by the government".
Sources expect more details on Vadra's alleged equations with Bhandari to emerge as the probe against the defence dealer gathers momentum.
Bhandari, known for his connections across the influence spectrum and with a rising reputation as a middleman, came under the I-T department's scanner in connection with the probe launched in 2015 against shell companies which created fake entries to route black money to political parties and passed off illicit contributions as legitimate ones.
Sources said the I-T department had gathered enough evidence to launch Bhandari's prosecution for tax evasion -something which will provide the basis for the Enforcement Directorate to probe him for alleged money laundering under the tough Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The PR firm engaged by Bhandari did not respond to questions from TOI when contacted.
Vadra has been mired in controversies since his controversial land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan, transacted when Congress was in power in the two states, came to light before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, giving BJP campaign fodder. The spotlight on his equations with Bhandari comes in the immediate aftermath of the verdict of an Italian court confirming that AgustaWestland had paid kickbacks during the UPA government's tenure to swing the order for 12 choppers for India's VVIP squadron.
The suggestion of a fresh scam involving Vadra should inconvenience Congress also because of its timing, it comes just after the fresh evidence, in the form of defeats in assembly polls earlier this month, of its steady diminution.
Read this story in Marathi.
(With inputs from agencies
I-T probe into arms dealer unearths 'Vadra home' in UK
May 31, 2016, 03.25 AM IST
New Delhi: A probe by the income tax department into the transactions of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari has trained the spotlight on his alleged links with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, especially with regard to the ownership of a house in central London.Sources said papers seized by the I-T department during searches last month on Bhandari's premises revealed a trail of emails between Vadra and his assistant on the one hand and the arms dealer's aide Sumit Chadha on the other regarding the purchase of the London house for approximately Rs 19 crore in 2009. There are emails also regarding renovation work carried out on the property before it was sold in June 2010. Responding to TOI's queries, Vadra's legal firm denied that he owned the London property directly or indirectly. It also denied Vadra had any business ties with Bhandari or Chadha. Our clients wish to categorically and unquivocally state that they do not own, directly or indi rectly, any house described by you as House No.12, Ellerton House, Bryanston Square, London," Robert Vadra's legal firm said.
The firm's response steered clear of spelling out whether Bhandari and Chadha were known to Vadra but strongly denied they had business ties. "Our clients have no business relations with Sanjay Bhandari. Our clients further state that they have not entered into any transaction of a financial nature with Sanjay Bhandari or Chadha," the law firm said even as it alleged that its "clients are being made targets of an unjustified persecution and witch-hunt by false leakages by the government".
In a separate response to NDTV , the law firm stressed that Vadra was not aware of Bhandari's involvement in "defence transactions", adding "our clients have scrupulously avoided even being remotely involved in relation to any defence transaction".
Sources expect more details on Vadra's alleged equations with Bhandari to emerge as the probe against the defence dealer gathers momentum.
Bhandari, known for his connections across the influence spectrum and with a rising reputation as a middleman, came under the I-T department's scanner in connection with the probe launched in 2015 against shell companies which created fake entries to route black money to political parties and passed off illicit contributions as legitimate ones.
Sources said the I-T department had gathered enough evidence to launch Bhandari's prosecution for tax evasion -something which will provide the basis for the Enforcement Directorate to probe him for alleged money laundering under the tough Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The PR firm engaged by Bhandari did not respond to questions from TOI when contacted.
The matter has, predictably, acquired a political dimension, with Congress alleging witch hunt. "An individual is being systematically prosecuted and hounded time and again, year after year without an iota of evidence," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, on the other hand, wrote to the ED on Monday demanding an inquiry into reports that Vadra "proxy-owned" property in London.
Top Comment
chor khangress looted whole country . shame on you fake gandhi familyVadra has been mired in controversies since his controversial land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan, transacted when Congress was in power in the two states, came to light before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, giving BJP campaign fodder. The spotlight on his equations with Bhandari comes in the immediate aftermath of the verdict of an Italian court confirming that AgustaWestland had paid kickbacks during the UPA government's tenure to swing the order for 12 choppers for India's VVIP squadron.
The suggestion of a fresh scam involving Vadra should inconvenience Congress also because of its timing, it comes just after the fresh evidence, in the form of defeats in assembly polls earlier this month, of its steady diminution.
Sonia Gandhi dubs PM Modi 'Shahenshah'; BJP calls her remarks 'deplorable'
TNN | May 31, 2016, 03.16 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi can't digest the fact that Narendra Modi , a humble tea-seller, rose to become Prime Minister, which is why she described him as a "Shahenshah" (emperor), the BJP said on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Sonia attacked the government over the celebrations being held for the NDA government completing two years and that's when she described the Prime Minister as a "Shahenshah".
"I have never seen anything like this. A Prime Minister is there, not a 'Shahenshah'. He is the country's Prime Minister. There is so much poverty in the country. There is drought. Farmers are in trouble. I do not find it appropriate (that government) shows off like this," she told reporters in Rae Bareli.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra lashed out at the Congress president, saying her remarks were 'absolutely deplorable'.
He added that the Congress needs to learn what 'Shahenshah' means, as it is that party that has run the country "like its fiefdom" during its decades long rule.
"A 'Shahenshah' is the person who considers this country and the party as their fiefdom. And who other than the Gandhis can be called Shahenshahs. They have been ruling this country as if this country was their fiefdom. Indira Gandhi was responsible for the emergency in this country. That is shehenshah-ism. That is dynasty rule," Patra told ANI.
He said the Prime Minister has risen from a humble background to the top post because of his hard work and blessings of the people.
Earlier in the day, Sonia attacked the government over the celebrations being held for the NDA government completing two years and that's when she described the Prime Minister as a "Shahenshah".
"I have never seen anything like this. A Prime Minister is there, not a 'Shahenshah'. He is the country's Prime Minister. There is so much poverty in the country. There is drought. Farmers are in trouble. I do not find it appropriate (that government) shows off like this," she told reporters in Rae Bareli.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra lashed out at the Congress president, saying her remarks were 'absolutely deplorable'.
He added that the Congress needs to learn what 'Shahenshah' means, as it is that party that has run the country "like its fiefdom" during its decades long rule.
"A 'Shahenshah' is the person who considers this country and the party as their fiefdom. And who other than the Gandhis can be called Shahenshahs. They have been ruling this country as if this country was their fiefdom. Indira Gandhi was responsible for the emergency in this country. That is shehenshah-ism. That is dynasty rule," Patra told ANI.
He said the Prime Minister has risen from a humble background to the top post because of his hard work and blessings of the people.
"As far as the Prime Minister is concerned, he is a poor man. He is a chaiwala (tea seller) who has risen gradually because of his hard work. Because of the blessings of the people of India he has become the PM of India," Patra said.
"When a poor man becomes the PM of the country, it is very difficult for the dynasts to digest it and that is the reason as to why out of frustration Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party are making such kinds of allegations," he added.
Echoing similar views, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that the 'Shahenshah' and 'Shehzada' culture exists in the Congress party, adding that the Prime Minister is the 'pradhan sevak' of the country. He said that instead of congratulating the BJP for itsachievements in the last two-years, the Congress is criticising it.
Responding to allegations levelled against her son-in-law Robert Vadra, that a controversial arms dealer bought a 'benami' or proxy-owned mansion in London for him in 2009, Sonia Gandhi earlier said the NDA government is resorting to new accusations everyday to achieve its target of a 'Congress-free India'. She dared the Centre to begin investigating the matter.
Published: May 31, 2016 13:54 IST | Updated: May 31, 2016 14:27 IST Raebareli (UP), May 31, 2016
Sonia attacks govt over charges against Vadra
The Hindu
File photos of Sonia Gandhi and Robert VadraCongress President Sonia Gandhi today hit back at the government on the charges against her son-in-law Robert Vadra saying it’s a part of a conspiracy of levelling false allegations in its bid for a “Congress- free” India.
She dared the government to order an impartial probe if there is something in which she said the truth will come out.
On a visit to her Parliamentary constituency, Ms. Gandhi was asked by newsmen on reports citing a probe by Income Tax department into transactions of an arms dealer named Sanjay Bhandari and his links with Mr. Vadra, especially with regard to ownership of a house in central London.
“This is a conspiracy for Congress-free country. What is the meaning of Congress-free India. Everyday they make new excuses. They level false charges. If there is something, then there should be an impartial probe. Everything will become clear,” she said.
News reports today quoted from purported papers seized by the IT department during searches last month on the arms dealer’s premises that allegedly led to a trail of emails between Mr. Vadra and his assistant on the one hand and the dealer’s aide on the other regarding the purchase of a London house for approximately Rs. 19 crore in 2009 which was subsequently said to have been sold.
Mr. Vadra’s legal firm have denied that he owned the London property directly or indirectly. It also denied Mr. Vadra has any business ties with the arms dealer or his aide.
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Sonia has gone mad seeing herself and Vadra going to JailVirat Sharma