Can't Appear in Delhi: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's Wife Tells ED in Coal Case

Rujira Banerjee told ED that it is not safe for her and her two infants to travel to Delhi alone amid COVID. Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: Shruti Mathur/The Quint)

Days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Naroola Banerjee in connection with a coal scam case, the latter has written to the probe agency saying that she won't be able to appear before it in Delhi.

Rujira told ED that it is not safe for her and her two infants to travel to Delhi alone amid the COVID-19 pandemic and told the agency to consider asking her to appear in Kolkata at her residence, news agency ANI reported.

Rujira's letter to the Assistant Director of ED said, "I am a mother of two infants and travelling to New Delhi physically alone in the midst of the pandemic will put me and the lives of my children at grave risk. It would be convenient to me if you consider asking me to appear in Kolkata at my own residence since your organisation has an office in Kolkata and I reside here too."

"Besides, as per my understanding, the alleged cause of action of the subject matter of your inquiry too arises out of West Bengal. I assure every cooperation from my side," she added in the letter dated 31 August, according to IANS.

While Abhishek had been summoned on 6 September, Rujira had been called on 1 September.

The ED's investigation in the case had begun after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a First Information Report (FIR) in the case.

Back in February, the CBI had questioned Rujira in connection with the coal scam case. The CBI had on 23 February gone to her residence to examine her just days ahead of the Bengal Assembly elections, while her sister and other family members were also questioned.

Abhishek's sister-in-law, Menaka Gambhir was among those questioned by the CBI in February. The developments had come ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, in which the TMC scored an emphatic victory over the BJP.

(With inputs from IANS and ANI)