Mahua Moitra to decline Enforcement Directorate summons in forex case today
PTC News Desk: Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has decided not to comply with a summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation case. Moitra, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Krishnanagar, has informed the central probe agency of her decision and has requested not to be summoned until the elections conclude.
The 49-year-old former MP had been summoned twice before by the central agency, but she had opted not to attend, citing official obligations. On Wednesday, the ED issued fresh summonses to Moitra and Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani, requiring them to appear before the agency today.
Moitra is accused of receiving cash and gifts from Hiranandani in exchange for posing questions in Parliament that targeted industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others. She was ousted from the Lok Sabha in December following an investigation into the matter, initiated based on a complaint lodged by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
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Sources indicate that the ED is scrutinising transactions associated with a non-resident external (NRE) account, as well as other foreign remittances and fund transfers. However, Moitra vehemently denies any wrongdoing, asserting that she is being persecuted for questioning deals involving the Adani Group.
Additionally, Moitra is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the cash-for-query case. Last Saturday, following the direction of the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal, the CBI conducted raids at her premises in West Bengal.
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(Inpus from agencies)
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