The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a third summons to Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra regarding irregularities in a foreign exchange contravention case, directing her to appear for questioning on March 28. Moitra has been asked to join the investigation at the ED headquarters in Delhi and bring along documents related to foreign investments linked to the case.
This latest summons comes after Moitra failed to appear for questioning on two previous occasions, on March 11 and February 19. The ED wants to question her under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, to record her statement regarding the case.
The investigation into Moitra is also being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following a preliminary inquiry initiated by the Lokpal based on allegations against her. The ED case is reportedly based on the reference from the CBI case.
Moitra has been embroiled in controversy since Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey accused her of targeting the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha questions in exchange for gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, compromising national security for monetary gains.
Despite denying any wrongdoing and claiming she is being targeted for questioning deals involving the Adani Group, Moitra was expelled as a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) on December 8 following the Ethics Panel’s findings in the ‘cash-for-query’ case.
Moitra had criticized the media circus around the allegations, stating, “Neither has Lok Pal uploaded any referral order on the website as per the Lokpal Act and nor has CBI put out anything official. ‘Sources’ telling journos as per usual media circus. Hope Rs 13,000 crore Adani coal scam merits CBI PE before my witchhunt.”
She also challenged her expulsion from the lower house of Parliament in connection with the ‘cash-for-query’ allegations, seeking relief from the Supreme Court.