ED Questions Omar Abdullah In J&K Bank Case, National Conference Calls It 'Vilification Campaign'

The party alleged that ED summons to its Vice President, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah was "another step" in the Centre's "vicious vilification campaign."

Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah (File Photo: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the purchase of a building by the J&K Bank about 12 years ago.

He arrived at the central probe agency's headquarters in Delhi this morning where his statement is being recorded, officials said told news agency PTI.

Omar Abdullah's party Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (J&K NC) questioned the BJP-led Union government in a statement where it called the ED questioning "another step in vicious vilification campaign."

"The central government has made a habit of misusing investigative agencies and this is another step in the same direction. No political party that puts up meaningful opposition to the BJP has been spared, whether it is the ED, CBI, NIA, NCB - all have been used for political purposes," its statement reads.

"There was a time when elections were announced by the EC but now it seems that elections are announced by the ED. Over recent years we have seen that wherever state elections are due, agencies like the ED move in and target those parties who pose a challenge to the BJP," it adds.

JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah was called by the ED to Delhi to appear before it today on the grounds that his attendance was necessary in connection with an investigation. Even though this exercise is political in nature he will cooperate as there is no wrongdoing on his part pic.twitter.com/ixYFgnWlHS

— JKNC (@JKNC_) April 7, 2022

The party alleged that ED summons to its Vice President is in the same vein, "We have no doubt that this fishing expedition will yield no concrete results to the BJP and the people will give a ringing endorsement to the national conference as and when required."

J&K NC mentioned that the former chief minister will cooperate with investigative agencies as it wrote: "Even though this exercise is political in nature, Mr. Omar Abdullah will cooperate with investigative agencies as there is no wrongdoing on his part and he is not an accused in any matter under investigation."

Omar Abdullah appeared before the investigators around 11 am today, news agency ANI reported ED officials as saying.

As per PTI, the case was registered by the ED earlier this year to probe the purchase of a building in Mumbai by the Jammu and Kashmir bank.

(With Agency Inputs)