SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was on Thursday questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the J&K Bank money laundering case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier booked former J&K Bank Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Shaikh and others for alleged irregularities in sanctioning of loans and investments.
Taking cognisance of CBI’s FIR, ED has initiated a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) probe.
According to reports he appeared before the investigators around 11 am today: ED officials
The National Conference said on its official Twitter handle that Abdullah was called to Delhi by the federal agency on the grounds that his attendance was necessary in connection with an investigation. It said that though the ED exercise was political in nature, Abdullah would cooperate with the same as there was no wrongdoing on his part.
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
In a detailed statement National Conference spokesman said that 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.
“Inspite of it being the holy month of Ramzan, and Delhi not being his primary place of residence, Omar Abdullah did not seek a postponement or a change of venue and appeared as per the notice,” said NC spokesman in a statement.
“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,” he said.
“There was a time when elections were announced by the EC but now it seems that elections are announced by the ED,” he added.
“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,” said the spokesman.
“This summons to our 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,” he said.
“This summons is another step in the vicious vilification campaign that started even before August 5, 2019, when constitutional position holders like the then Governor were used to make slanderous accusations against opponents of the BJP, knowing full well that there was no legal recourse available to those at the receiving end of these lies,” he added.
Even though this exercise is political in nature, 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, said the spokesman.
