I-T probe reveals Vadra’s home in UK - A probe by the income tax depa- Navbharat Times Photodhamal

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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.

In This Pic : Robert Vadra

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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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.

In This Pic : Robert Vadra

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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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 This Pic : Robert Vadra

Pic Courtesy : PTI

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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".

In This Pic : Robert Vadra

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

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Sources expect more details on Vadra's alleged equations with Bhandari to emerge as the probe against the defence dealer gathers momentum.

In This Pic : Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi

Pic Courtesy : BCCL