TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee moves Delhi HC against ED summons

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Friday moved the Delhi Excessive Courtroom in opposition to the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to seem earlier than its workplace in New Delhi subsequent week in reference to the alleged coal mining rip-off.

Mr. Banerjee, in his petition filed collectively together with his spouse Rujira Banerjee, has challenged the summons order issued by the Assistant Director of the ED, asking for his private look together with a voluminous set of paperwork, on September 21 in New Delhi.

The case arises out of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with respect to alleged offences of unlawful mining and theft of coal from the leasehold areas of Japanese Coalfields Restricted dedicated in West Bengal by sure people. Based mostly on the FIR, the ED has registered an Enforcement Case Data Report (ECIR).

The couple, who’re each everlasting residents of Kolkata, claimed that the ED has repeatedly summoned each of them for examination in individual at New Delhi, with out supplying a duplicate of the ECIR and with out specifying whether or not they had been being summoned as witnesses or accused, nor indicating the scope of the investigation being carried out.

They raised “critical apprehensions in regards to the equity of the investigation” being carried out by the ED, claiming that the company is adopting a “decide and select perspective” with respect to sure individuals and is giving undue profit and safety to complicit people.

The couple additionally alleged the ED is selectively leaking info to the media with the intent of harming their fame and inspiring a media trial.

Earlier this week, the ED had approached the Excessive Courtroom, difficult the notices issued to its officers by the West Bengal police, pursuant to an FIR by Mr. Banerjee. The ED, in its plea, contended that the notices are obviously unlawful, mala fide, and a “counter blast” to the investigation within the case.

The Excessive Courtroom has set the ED case for listening to on September 21.