The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering case against TMC leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani in connection with an alleged cash-for-queries scam case, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday, citing official sources. The probe agency filed the enforcement case information report (ECIR), the ED equivalent of a police FIR, against the two, taking cognisance of a CBI complaint, the sources said.
The ED case was registered two-three days ago. The federal agency has been probing them under the civil sections of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and has called TMC leader Moitra and Dubai-based businessman Hiranandani in this case for questioning but they have not disposed till now, citing official engagements.
Last month , the CBI had carried out searches, after filing its FIR, at the premises of Moitra, a former TMC MP from Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal. She has been renominated by the Trinamool Congress led by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to contest in the upcoming general elections.
According to CBI officials, the probe agency registered an FIR against her and Hiranandani on the directives of Lokpal which has instructed the agency to file its report within six months, PTI reported.
Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha after allegations of bribery for asking questions in Parliament. She was accused of receiving cash and gifts from Hiranandani to attack Prime Minister Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani -- a charge she has repeatedly denied.
The Lokpal has issued the directions to the CBI after receiving findings of its preliminary inquiry into allegations made by BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey against Moitra. He has alleged that the TMC leader had asked questions in the lower house in exchange for cash and gifts from Hiranandani to mount an attack on industrialist Gautam Adani and PM Modi among others.