Date of hearing in Vadra land deal case deferred to Oct 24

JODHPUR

: The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday first deferred hearing in the

land deal

case involving businessman Robert Vadra and his mother Maurine

Vadra

to November 5 but, after protest by respondent counsels, listed it for October 24.


Counsel for Vadra, K L Tulsi, reached the high court on Thursday, ahead of the scheduled time of the case, and prayed that the matter be deferred until the same case’s progress before the Supreme Court is completed.

Justice Manoj Kumar Garg initially granted the prayer of Vadra’s counsels and deferred the hearing till November 5.

Later, when additional solicitor general Raj Deep Rastogi, who is representing ED in the matter, reached the court and learnt about the deferment sought in his absence, he protested and entered into a heated argument with the defence counsels.

Rastogi said that the case should be decided on merit, which would be acceptable to all.

He alleged that he has been regularly appearing in the matter but the petitioner’s counsels were trying to mislead the court.

An application was submitted by Rastogi seeking reply from the defence that why the matter was taken up for hearing before the scheduled time and no intimation was conveyed to him.

“The defence then sought time to submit reply of the application and, grating its plea, the court deferred the hearing till October 24,” said Rastogi.

Kuldeep Mathur, appearing for Vadra, said that earlier the court had posted the matter for hearing on November 5 but on protest by the ASG, stating urgency, the court deferred it till October 24.

On the prayer of the ED during the case’s last hearing on August 22, the high court had listed the matter for final submissions on Thursday.