Robert Vadra

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Robert Vadra is an Indian businessman notable as the husband of Priyanka Gandhi and a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family by marriage. He was born to Rajinder and Maureen Wadhera on 18 April 1969. Rajinder Vadra hails from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh and Maureen was of Scottish origin (maiden name: McDonagh).^[1]

Robert may have met Priyanka Gandhi, the daughter of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi at the house of common expatriate friend Ottavio Quattrocchi.^[2] Subsequently he married Priyanka Gandhi on 18 February 1997. They have two children.

He had one brother Richard Vadra who was found dead in September 2003 at his Vasant Vihar residence, and his sister Michelle died in a car accident in 2001. His father Rajinder Vadra committed suicide on 2 April 2009 under suspicious circumstances, but the story was not published widely by the Indian media. Rajinder Vadra in an interview was highly critical of his son Robert and said that after the wedding with Priyanka Gandhi, he disowned his son.

[edit]Controversies

He, along with other VIPs like HH the Dalai Lama and the Chief Justice of India, has been exempted from frisking at airports. The list of such VIPs was compiled and forwarded to the concerned authorities by the government on 26 September 2005. Others on the list include the President, the Prime Minister, former Presidents and PMs and SPG protectees.^[3] This move has come under scrutiny since more important entities on the warrant of precedence, like the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force staff are not extended this waiver. However, BCAS Commissioner S. R. Mehra declined comment.^[4]

His bodyguard was prevented from carrying a pistol into Parliament.^[5] Robert Vadra operates an antique store in Italy. He had a store in New Delhi.

Further controversy has erupted over unsecured loans from DLF