The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted searches on the premises of three persons, including two, of what it said, employees of Robert Vadra, businessman and brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

“The searches are being conducted since 11 a.m. in the Delhi-National Capital Region and Bengaluru. Two of the suspects happen to be employees of Mr. Vadra,” said a senior ED official.

The suspects had acquired assets abroad, allegedly using commissions from certain defence deals, he said. Two of them had received funds from defence dealers, which were invested in the assets overseas. “All the three persons are being questioned,” he said.

PTI  adds:

Probably evidence was being fabricated: Vadra's lawyer

Mr. Vadra’s lawyer, Suman Jyoti Khaitan, has alleged that ED teams entered the premises of associates of his client without showing “search warrants“. He claimed that the premises were locked from inside. He questioned the government’s motive behind it. Mr. Khaitan further claimed that probably evidence was being fabricated.

Modi govt unleashing vendetta against Vadra, says Congress

The Congress has slammed the ED for the ''raids'', saying an “unnerved” Narendra Modi government was unleashing “vendetta” against Mr. Vadra to divert the narrative.

“Sure shot defeat in 5 States unnerves Modi Govt to again use the old tools - unleash revenge & vendetta against Mr. Robert Vadra to divert the narrative,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted. “Such cowardice & intimidation will not subjugate either the Congresa Party or the will of people,” he said.