LI Network
Published on: October 7, 2023 at 18:43 IST
In a significant development regarding the ongoing investigation into the school jobs for cash scam, the Calcutta High Court has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to provide a 48-hour notice before summoning Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the case [Abhishek Banerjee vs Ramesh Malik].
A division bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Uday Kumar issued the order after considering the plea filed by Banerjee, who claimed that he was consistently served with summons by the ED whenever he planned to attend his political party’s rallies.
The court ruled that the ED must thoroughly examine the available evidence and issue summons to Banerjee only if his personal appearance is deemed necessary.
Moreover, the bench emphasized that Justice Amrita Sinha, the single-judge handling the case, should refrain from making any statements that could prejudice Banerjee’s rights.
The court stressed the importance of conducting a fair, impartial, and time-bound investigation into the scam, emphasizing the need to avoid any adverse remarks that might influence the ongoing probe.
Justice Sinha had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the ED’s investigation, pointing out insufficient information about Banerjee’s assets.
The court observed that the scale of the alleged scam was immense and necessitated a thorough and trustworthy investigation.
The bench criticized the inadequacy of the report submitted by the ED, citing missing essential details due to the non-supply of necessary documents.