Supreme Court dismisses plea by Abhishek Banerjee, wife in coal mining case

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the appeals filed by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s summonses in a money laundering case related to coal mining ‘scam’ in the state.

“Suffice it to say that we do not find any illegality in the said orders passed by the concerned court and that the said complaint shall be proceeded further by the said court,” a Bench led by Justice Bela M Trivedi said. The TMC MP and his wife had challenged the summons in connection with the agency’s probe in the laundering aspect of the case.

They had said the ED cannot seek their presence for questioning at New Delhi and it has to happen at their ordinary place of residence that is Kolkata. However, the top court said, “We…do not find any illegality in the summons issued by the respondent-ED summoning the Appellants (Banerjee and his wife) to its office at Delhi, which also has the territorial jurisdiction, a part of the offence having been allegedly committed by the accused persons as alleged in the complaint.”