Probe Mamata Banerjee’s Nephew In Coal Theft Case In Kolkata: SC To ED

Mumbai: Supreme Court has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee and his wife in the coal theft case in Kolkata instead of Delhi.

The top court said that the ED officials can interrogate the duo in Kolkata by giving 24 hours advance notice. The Supreme Court directed the West Bengal government to cooperate with the central probe agency and provide adequate security to its officials when they come to the state to interrogate Banerjee.

A bench of Supreme Court Justice UU Lalit said it “will not tolerate any kind of obstruction and interference by the state machinery”.

Banerjee had asked the ED to conduct inquiries in her home state and not in Delhi, where the probe agency is headquartered.

Supreme Court issued notice to Enforcement Directorate to respond within three weeks to Abhishek Banerjee’s plea against the HC order and posted the matter for hearing on July 19.

Banerjee’s party colleagues and the chief minister have often accused the BJP-led Center of using investigative agencies to harass Trinamool leaders.

The ED is probing a money-laundering probe related to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal in which the agency had issued summons to the Banerjee couple.

Abhishek Banerjee had told the apex court that he was ready to be probed by the ED in Kolkata. The Trinamool Congress leader and his wife have challenged the summons issued by the ED to appear here in connection with a money-laundering probe related to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.

He has requested the top court to quash the summons and restrain the ED from seeking his presence for questioning in Delhi. He argued that the ED could question him in Kolkata and sought a stay of the High Court order.

The petitioners have asked the top court to decide whether the ED can assume pan-India jurisdiction to call people to Delhi from anywhere.

The 34-year-old MP represents the Diamond Harbour seat in Lok Sabha and is the national general secretary of the TMC.

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