Mohuar does not respond to ED’s Delhi summons, busy campaigning

Mahua Maitra is not going to Delhi on Thursday in response to the summons from ED. The Trinamool candidate of Krishnanagar said that she has a campaign program in Kaliganj, which belongs to her Lok Sabha constituency, in the morning. In response to a question about whether she is responding to the summons of the ED, Mahua told a TV channel, “It is 9:40. I am leaving my house in Krishnanagar. My program today is in the Kaliganj Assembly under the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha Constituency. There is my outreach program in Nayachar village.”

According to ED sources, on Wednesday, they summoned Mahua in a case of violation of the Foreign Exchange Control Act. Mahua was asked to appear at the ED headquarters in Delhi on Thursday, i.e., March 28. It may be noted that the ED had summoned the expelled MP from Krishnanagar in the same case in the past as well. But even at that time, she avoided attendance. Not only Mahua, but businessman Darshan Hiranandani was also summoned by the ED on Thursday in the same case.

According to ED sources, a case has been filed against Mahua under the Foreign Exchange Control Act. There are a few cases of foreign currency transactions under the notice of investigating officers. A non-resident external (NRE) account transaction is also under their watch. Mahua and Darshan have been summoned for questioning in that regard.

The CBI is already investigating Mahua in the ‘Question for Bribe’ case. Last Saturday, they searched four addresses in Mahua: a flat in Alipore, two offices in Krishnanagar, and a rented house in Karimpur. Mahua was expelled from the post of Lok Sabha MP in the ‘question in exchange for bribe’ case last December. The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha had recommended the expulsion of Mahua. They submitted a report of 495 pages. Trinamool asked for time to read the report. Congress and other opposition parties also sought time from the Speaker. But the speaker did not give time. After the expulsion, Mahua said that she would leave after seeing the end of this incident. Will fight inside and outside the Lok Sabha for the next 30 years. Challenging this expulsion order, she approached the Supreme Court. The case is still pending there.