SC allows ED to interrogate Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee in Bengal coal theft case
Directing the West Bengal government to cooperate with the central probe agency, the SC asked it to provide adequate protection to its officials when they are in the state to question Banerjee.
- The SC has allowed the ED to probe Abhishek Banerjee
- Abhishek and his wife are under ED scanner in connection with the coal scam case
- The SC also posted the matter for the next hearing on July 19
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NEW DELHI: In a major development, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to interrogate Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and his wife, Rujira, in connection with an ongoing probe into the West Bengal coal smuggling case.
The top court said that both of them can be questioned by the ED officials in Kolkata by giving them advance 24-hour notice. Directing the West Bengal government to cooperate with the central probe agency, the SC asked it to provide adequate protection to its officials when they arrive in the state to question Banerjee.
The Supreme Court bench of Justice UU Lalit said that it won't "tolerate any kind of obstruction and interference by the state machinery."
Banerjee had asked for ED questioning in his home state and not in Delhi, where the probe agency has its headquarters.
Supreme Court says it would not tolerate any kind of obstruction and interference by the State machinery if ED interrogates Abhishek Banerjee and his wife in Kolkata. — ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2022
Supreme Court also issued a notice to Enforcement Directorate on Abhishek Banerjee's plea against the HC order and sought a response within three weeks and posted the matter for hearing on July 19.
Banerjee's party colleagues and the Chief Minister have often accused the BJP-led centre of using probe agencies to harass Trinamool leaders. The ED is conducting the investigation in a money-laundering probe, linked 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 is ready to be probed by the ED in Kolkata. The TMC leader and his wife have challenged the summons issued to them by the ED for appearance here in connection with the money laundering probe linked to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.
They have requested the top court to quash the summons and restrain the ED from seeking their presence for questioning in Delhi. They pleaded that they can be questioned by the ED at Kolkata and sought a stay on High Court`s order. The petitioners have asked the apex court to decide whether the ED can assume pan-India jurisdiction to summon persons from anywhere to Delhi.
The 34-year-old MP represents the Diamond Harbour seat in Lok Sabha and is the national general secretary of the TMC.