Vadra tenders apology for violating court-ordered travel restrictions
Sep 21, 2022
New Delhi [India], September 21 : Businessman Robert Vadra on Wednesday tendered an unconditional apology for his alleged violation of the terms and conditions imposed by a Delhi court for travelling to the UK, Italy and Spain.
Special Judge Neelofar Abida Parveen of Rouse Avenue court on Wednesday reserved its order till Thursday on the plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to forfeit fixed deposit and initiate legal proceedings against Vadra for violating terms and conditions imposed by the court for travelling abroad.
Vadra offered an unconditional apology while the ED said action should be initiated against him. He said in an affidavit that he inadvertently made an error and instead of "to Dubai", he wrote "via Dubai" in the application for permission to travel. Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is at present on bail in a money laundering case.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Robert Vadra,
Vadra's contention was opposed by the counsel of ED. Advocate N K Matta, special public prosecutor (SPP) for ED submitted that Robert Vadra was directed to submit his address to the court before leaving India and added that even after coming back to India, he did not submit details of places he visited in the UK.
"ED on August 22, 23 and 24 did not object to the modified itinerary (which included a stopover in Dubai for 4 days) that we had submitted, Singhvi argued.
On Monday, the Court had expressed its displeasure with businessman Robert Vadra's explanation that he stayed in Dubai for a medical emergency in August this year while travelling to the United Kingdom via UAE and said this is a violation of the terms and conditions of the permission granted to him.
The court had also issued a show cause notice asking Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi why his fixed deposit receipt should not be forfeited for violating the terms and conditions of the permission granted to him.
The court had granted permission to Robert Vadra on August 12 to travel abroad to the UK via UAE, Spain and Italy for four weeks. The court had noted that the flight and hotel details mentioned in the said undertaking given by Robert Vadra clearly indicated that he would travel to the UK via UAE as permitted by this court.
Vadra in his affidavit said that he stayed in UAE before embarking on his further journey because he had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his left leg and he had been advised to take proper rest between long-haul flights.
During the said trip, since there was inflammation and pain in his left leg, he had to stop and seek medical advice in Dubai on August 27 at the LGA Medical Facilitation Centre meant for medical emergencies of travellers in Dubai where he was advised further medical treatment in this respect, Vadra's lawyer argued.
Vadra in his affidavit stated that his stoppage at UAE during the said trip to the UK was not with the intention to violate any condition imposed nor was there any attempt to mislead, rather, was on account of medical exigencies.
Robert Vadra is presently on bail in a money laundering case filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED).
