New Delhi: Industrialist Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, is in trouble.
Vadra had to offer an unconditional apology before a Delhi court on Wednesday even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought action against him for violating terms and conditions imposed by the court vis-à-vis travelling abroad, the Hindustan Times reported.
In an affidavit, Vadra stated that he had made an inadvertent error. Instead of ‘to Dubai’, he had written ‘via Dubai’ in his application seeking permission to travel.
The court reserved its order till Thursday on ED’s petition seeking forfeiture of fixed deposit and initiation of legal proceedings against Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, who is out on bail in a money-laundering case.
The court earlier expressed its displeasure for Vadra allegedly violating terms and conditions imposed on him last month. The court, on August 12, had allowed Vadra to travel abroad to the UK via UAE, Spain and Italy for four weeks.
Special judge Neelofar Abida Parveen passed an order on Monday, taking exception to Vadra’s explanation for his stay in Dubai ostensibly for medical exigency during his trip to the UK.
“I am unable to accept the assertion on sole affirmation of applicant contained in para 5 of the affidavit that the applicant was forced/compelled under the circumstances on account of medical exigencies to stay at UAE while traveling via UAE to UK for the simple reason that itinerary filed on August 22 and copy of the travel tickets indicates that Vadra all along intended to stay from August 25-29 at Dubai then travel to London on August 28,” the court order stated.
Vadra filed an affidavit on his return stating that he stayed in the UAE because he had “deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his left leg and had been advised to take proper rest between long-haul flights”.
The court asked why Vadra’s fixed deposit receipt (FDR), deposited in terms of the order dated August 12, be not forfeited for violating terms and conditions.
