The Supreme Court on Monday instructed the ED to provide information on whether a Look Out Circular has been issued against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.
The bench of Justices SK Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia addressed Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, during a hearing on the couple’s plea to travel abroad.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the duo, submitted that the TMC MP is scheduled to go abroad on July 26 for medical reasons.
Despite, he said repeated intimations, the agency has not responded, prompting him to move to the top court.
Sibal pointed out that Abhishek Banerjee and his wife travelled abroad earlier and returned without obstruction during the ongoing probe against them.
Previously, the top court allowed the ED to interrogate the couple in connection with the alleged coal scam at its Kolkata office, granting them a 24-hour advance notice.
Rujira Banerjee was stopped from boarding a UAE-bound flight on June 5 due to a lookout notice issued by the ED, requesting her appearance before the agency.
The ED registered a case under the PMLA Act, 2002, based on a November 2020 FIR filed by the CBI, alleging a multi-crore rupees coal pilferage scam related to the Eastern Coalfields Limited mines in Kunustoria and Kajora areas in and around Asansol.
A local coal smuggling ring leader, is considered the prime suspect in the case.
ED claimed that the 35-year-old TMC MP, who is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, benefitted from funds obtained from this illegal trade.
However, Abhishek Banerjee has denied all allegations.
