FEMA Case: ED Issues Fresh Summons to Mahua Moitra & Darshan Hiranandani

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) contravention case on March 28, as per official sources on Wednesday.

The 49-year-old Trinamool Congress leader had previously been summoned for questioning by the central agency. Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December for “unethical conduct,” has been nominated again by her party from West Bengal’s Krishnanagar seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on her premises in connection with the cash-for-query case on Saturday, following directives from the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal to investigate the allegations made against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

Dubey, a Lok Sabha member, has alleged that Moitra solicited questions in the House in exchange for cash and gifts from Dubai-based Hiranandani to launch an attack on industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others. The federal probe agency is scrutinizing transactions associated with a non-resident external (NRE) account, in addition to several other foreign remittances and fund transfers, according to the sources.

Moitra has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that she is being targeted because she raised questions regarding the dealings of the Adani Group.