Rujira Banerjee is wife of Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee (File)
Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira Banerjee, summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, has told the agency that she cannot travel to Delhi but is willing to be questioned at her home in Kolkata.
The Trinamool general secretary's wife was asked to appear before the central probe agency today. Abhishek Banerjee, her husband and also West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew, has been asked to appear before the agency in Delhi on September 6 (Monday).
"I am a mother of two infants and travelling to New Delhi physically alone in the midst of the pandemic will put my 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 residence since your organization has its office in Kolkata and I reside in Kolkata too," she wrote to the Enforcement Directorate in a letter yesterday.
"The alleged cause of action of the subject matter of your inquiry too arises out of West Bengal," she added.
The Enforcement Directorate, which investigates financial crimes, is inquiring into money laundering allegations linked to illegal mining and theft of coal from the state-run Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) in Bengal.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Saturday accused the Centre of letting loose its agencies on her nephew and his wife as part of its political agenda.
Challenging the BJP to fight against her party politically, the Chief Minister said, "Why are you unleashing the ED against us. Against your one case we will raise bagfuls. We know how to fight back. We know the history of Gujarat."
The CBI had questioned Rujira Banerjee in the case on the February 23, days ahead of the Bengal assembly polls, in Kolkata. Her sister and family have also been questioned.