ED quizzes TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira for four hours in coal scam case

Rujira was summoned by the central investigation agency on Monday to appear before the ED officials on June 8 regarding the ongoing probe of the alleged coal smuggling scam from a CIL's subsidiary unit in Bengal.

The CBI and the ED have been probing the case based on a directive by the Calcutta High Court.

Rujira appeared around 12:50 noon at the CGO Complex and was grilled by the officials in  phases for nearly four hours.

She was stopped at the Netaji Subhash Chandra International Airport (Dumdum) on Monday by immigration officials refraining her from leaving the country after a lookout notice by the central investigation agency.

The ED officials had handed a summon notice to her at the airport itself.

Two officials from New Delhi including Deputy Director Pankaj Kumar arrived in Kolkata to quiz Rujira.

The ED had reportedly prepared a three-page questionnaire for Rujira in the alleged coal scam.

Sources said a female ED official was also present at the CGO Complex.

On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Centre and its probe agencies alleging that the ED and CBI are harassing people and her family members.

"It is unfortunate what the ED and CBI are doing. They are harassing people. Abhishek Banerjee's mother-in-law is unwell, and hence her wife was travelling to meet her mother," Banerjee said in a statement.

"The Supreme Court had said that if she were to leave the city, she could inform the ED and do so, which she did well in advance. ED officials could have told her in advance that she cannot travel abroad. But handing summons at the airport itself is nothing but harassment."

The Trinamool Congress supremo went on to say that "at times when people are trying to help their parents and elders, these investigating agencies are harassing people. They have no shame. They are busy politicising deaths. I don't want to get into this game with them."

[With UNI inputs]