The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani for questioning regarding the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) contravention case, officials said on Wednesday.
Moitra (49) was asked to appear for questioning twice, however, she did not depose citing official work and seeking notice deferment. Both Moitra and Hiranandani have been asked to appear for questioning at the ED office in New Delhi on Thursday, March 28, the sources said, as PTI reported.
Additionally, Hiranandani was summoned by the agency for a different case involving FEMA related to his real estate group in Mumbai. Before this, his father Niranjan Hiranandani had already provided information to the ED in Mumbai.
In the ongoing case, an advocate allegedly linked to Moitra was examined by the ED on Wednesday at its office in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Moitra, who was removed from the Lok Sabha in December due to alleged “unethical conduct”, has been nominated again by the Trinamool Congress for the Krishnanagar seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal.
On Saturday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a raid on her property regarding the cash-for-query case. This action followed directives from the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal to investigate allegations made against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
Dubey has accused Moitra, a Lok Sabha member, of asking questions in exchange for money and gifts from Hiranandani to target industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others.
The Enforcement Directorate is scrutinising transactions associated with a non-resident external (NRE) account, along with other foreign remittances and fund transfers, according to sources.
Notably, Moitra has refuted any wrongdoing and asserts that she is being singled out because she raised concerns about the Adani Group’s dealings.
(With PTI Inputs)