Investigative agencies are looking at whether Robert Vadra had close relationship with controversial arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari after the latter is said to have admitted to an email exchange between the two.
The enquiry has also been expanded to British Virgin Islands and the UAE after investigators reported to the Finance Ministry about the possibility of a London property of Bhandari having links with Vadra.
The recent developments came after Income Tax Department got hold of documents that included email trails when they raided Bhandari’s residence last month. Bhandari has been summoned by the I-T Department.
Meanwhile, more names tumbled out on who have contacts with Bhandari. The name revealed on Wednesday was that of Appa Rao, the Officer on Special Duty to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju. TV news channel NDTV reported that he spoke to Bhandari 355 times. Rao has denied any wrongdoing.
Earlier, BJP leader Siddharth Singh's name also cropped up besides a Delhi-based senior journalist. He also denied any improper links with the arms dealer.
Official sources said Bhandari had email interactions with Vadra and that he had admitted it.
Vadra’s lawyers had earlier denied any link to a property mentioned in the emails between him and Bhandari that were quoted in reports filed before the Finance Ministry by agencies.
Agencies are now investigating whether the London property, which was linked to Vadra, was bought by a shell company incorporated in British Virgin Islands by Bhandari.
Two other properties in Dubai were also under scanner. Investigators are trying to ascertain who paid the money.
The I-T Department has already requested some countries, including some tax havens, in connection with its probe against Bhandari.
The department has approached the British Virgin Islands, the United Kingdom, UAE, Switzerland and a few other countries.
Official sources said the probe is still on and they initiated it after receiving inputs about Bhandari’s tax evasion. The I-T Department also approached Financial Intelligence Unit seeking help to ascertain details of bank accounts and transactions which involve Bhandari and a few prominent names.