ED summons Praful Patel for grilling next week
According to sources Patel has been asked to join the probe either on June 10 or 11.
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former civil aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel for questioning next week as he skipped his scheduled appearance before the agency on Thursday owing to some personal commitments.
According to sources Patel has been asked to join the probe either on June 10 or 11. He will be questioned by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe related to the alleged losses suffered by national carrier Air India in a multi-crore aviation scam during the UPA regime. “Due to my prior commitments, I have requested the ED for another date,” Patel told media persons in Mumbai. Patel has been named in a recent charge sheet filed by the federal agency before a court as a person known to alleged aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar, arrested by the ED sometime back.
Mr Patel has not been mentioned as an accused in the case. The ED had already questioned a number of people in the senior management of the state-owned airline and the aviation ministry. Patel was expected to be quizzed about the statements and revelations made by Talwar, they added. The statement of Patel, a Rajya Sabha MP, will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The four-time MP from the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra had earlier told PTI that he would be happy to cooperate with the ED for their understanding of the complexities of the aviation industry.