ED Investigates EC Ashok Lavasa’s Son Under FEMA

Last week, the ED had reportedly sent summons to Abir Lavasa to appear before the investigating agency.

Enforcement Directorate. 

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@dir_ed)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an investigation against Abir Lavasa, son of Election Commissioner (EC) Ashok Lavasa, under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) for allegedly violating the foreign exchange laws, reported The Indian Express.

Ashok Lavasa was one of the commissioners who had opposed the clean chit given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah during the Lok Sabha elections on charges of violating the Model Code of Conduct.

Last week, the ED had reportedly summoned Abir Lavasa to appear before the investigating agency.

WHAT IS THE CASE ALL ABOUT?

Abir Lavasa is the director of Nourish Organic Foods Pvt Ltd since 17 November 2017. According to the daily, the ED is looking at Rs 7.25 crore raised by Lavasa’s company from Saama Capital, a Mauritius-based India focussed early stage investor.

Speaking to the daily, an ED official said that despite loss-making, the company received “heavy investments at a premium”. Lavasa too spoke to The Indian Express and confirmed that he had received a summon but added that the company is fully compliant. However, he refused to divulge any further details.

Earlier, in August the I-T department too, had served a notice to the company. 

The article further added that three members of the Lavasa family – including Ashok Lavasa’s wife Novel and sister Shakutala – are under the I-T department scanner for non-declaration of income.

Further, the daily reported that the government wrote to 11 PSUs on 29 August to verify if there was any record of “undue influence” by Ashok Lavasa during his tenure in the Power Ministry from 2009 to 2013.

(With inputs from The Indian Express)