New Delhi, May 29: Corruption-accused businessman Robert Vadra has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday in connection to a money laundering and tax evasion case. The summon comes five days after the probing agency moved the Delhi High Court against the bail granted to Vadra by a trial court on April 1.

The counsel representing ED argued before the High Court that the agency has incriminating evidence against Vadra of laundering money and evading taxes through the purchase of 1.9 million pound-worth property at London's 12 Bryanston Square. Robert Vadra to Join Politics? Says 'I Feel I Should Dedicate a Larger Role in Serving People'

The ED told the Delhi HC that Vadra's questioning was required to unearth the entire source of credit used for the purchase of properties, ascertaining transactions and money laundering.

"Because it is trite to say that the anticipatory bail, to some extent, intrudes in the sphere of investigation of crime and that the courts must be cautious and circumspect in exercising such powers of discriminatory nature," the ED said in its plea.

"It is for the same reason that the relevant factors for grant of anticipatory bail are materially different from the grant of regular bail... The special judge has passed the impugned order by ignoring the material on record."

The probe agency also said that Vadra's questioning would help it ascertain the role of other key accused persons involved in the commission of offence and their modus operandi.

"Ascertaining the exact source of the tainted money and the end use of such funds involved in the case," the plea read and added: "Confronting him (Vadra) with the voluminous incriminating material for bringing the investigation to a logical conclusion." The ED noted that there were chances that Vadra may tamper with evidence and influence witnesses in the case, as he was an influential person.

The agency said that in spite of being given several opportunities to come clean about his alleged role in the case, Vadra has remained evasive and has maliciously claimed himself to be a victim of political vendetta and that he had made all possible attempts to sensationalise the case.

(With IANS inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 29, 2019 10:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).