ED files chargesheet on Bengal ministers: Narada sting case

Firhad Hakim Subrata Mukherjee, former Calcutta mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Trinamul MLA Madan Mitra and suspended IPS officer S.M.H. Mirza indicted

Firhad Hakim: File picture

Kinsuk Basu   |   TT  |   Calcutta   |   02.09.21: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against Bengal ministers Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee, former Calcutta mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Trinamul MLA Madan Mitra and suspended IPS officer S.M.H. Mirza in the Narada sting case.

In the chargesheet submitted to a special court, the ED has said “further investigation” is required in respect of Mukul Roy, Suvendu Adhikari, Saugata Roy, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Prasun Banerjee, Iqbal Ahmed, Aparupa Poddar and “some unknown persons”.

The court ordered issuance of summons to the five accused and their appearance on November 16.

The court has directed that the summons to Mukherjee, Hakim and Mitra be served through the office of the Assembly speaker as the trio are legislators. Summons to the other two would be served directly at their addresses, the court said.

“Four leaders and an IPS officer have been charged under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA),” said Abhijit Bhadra, a lawyer who appeared on behalf of the central investigating agency. “We sought permission for further questioning of these four leaders as a part of the probe and the court has granted it.”

ED officials said Wednesday’s chargesheet followed a criminal case drawn up by the CBI in the Narada sting case.

Rujira letter to ED

Trinamul Congress leader Abhisek Banerjee’s wife Rujira has sent a letter to the ED, expressing her inability to turn up in New Delhi for questioning in connection with a money laundering case.

The ED had asked Rujira and Abhishek to appear for questioning in Delhi on September 1 and 6, respectively. Instead, Rujira requested the agency to question her at her Calcutta residence, ED sources said.

In the letter addressed to an assistant director of the ED, Rujira wrote: “This refers to summons dated August 18, 2021 asking me to appear in person in New Delhi on September 1. I am a mother of two infants, and travelling to New Delhi physically alone in the midst of the pandemic will put me and my children at grave risk.”

ED officials declined comments.