Bengal Coal Scam: ED summons Law Minister Moloy Ghatak again

Kolkata (IANS). The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the multi-crore coal smuggling case in West Bengal, has again summoned state Law Minister Moloy Ghatak for questioning in connection with the case.

Ghatak has been asked to appear at the central agency’s headquarters in New Delhi in the third week of July.

The notice was sent to him through an email on Wednesday morning. This is not the first time that Ghatak has been called by ED officials to their headquarters for questioning in the case.

But each time the Law Minister avoided the summons. The last time a notice was issued to him on June 23, asking him to appear at the ED’s New Delhi office on June 26.

Earlier on June 19, the minister was summoned but he did not appear and informed the probe agency through his lawyer that he had other engagements in view of the upcoming panchayat elections in Bengal.

Earlier, the ED had issued a notice to Ghatak on June 6, giving him ample time of 13 days to prepare himself and appear at the agency’s New Delhi office.

However, at the last moment the minister informed the officials of the central agency about his inability to conduct the inquiry due to his preoccupations regarding the panchayat elections in the state.

It may be mentioned that in September last year, ED officials had conducted raids and searches at several residences of Ghatak and his relatives in Asansol in West Burdwan district and Kolkata.

The state law minister had to face marathon questioning at that time as well.