Supreme Court Upholds ED Summons Against TMC's Abhishek Banerjee in Money Laundering Case

The Supreme Court dismissed appeals by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira challenging the Enforcement Directorate's summons in a money laundering case. The case relates to alleged illegal coal excavation and theft involving Eastern Coalfields Limited. Both had contested the summons on legal grounds but were overruled.

In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has dismissed the pleas of TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee and his wife, Rujira Banerjee, against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons in a high-profile money laundering case.

The bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma upheld the validity of the ED's summons issued to the couple under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on September 10, 2021. The summons requires them to appear at the New Delhi office in connection with the alleged illegal excavation and theft of coal in areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited.

Despite arguments from the appellants, the court emphasized the legally binding nature of the summons and the necessity of personal or authorized agent attendance. The court also noted that any violation of Section 50's directions could lead to proceedings under the Indian Penal Code. The ED's case, originating from a CBI probe under the Prevention of Corruption Act, involves significant financial implications, with suspected money laundering totaling Rs. 1300 Crores.

(With inputs from agencies.)