Money laundering: ED quizzes Misa Bharti

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday questioned Misa Bharti, MP daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, in connection with its probe into a Rs 8,000-crore money laundering case. 

According to sources, Ms Bharti deposed before the investigating officer (IO) of the case at the central probe agency’s zonal office around 11am. Sources said her statement was also recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 

They said Ms Bharti was questioned about her role in a firm, Mishail Printers and Packers Private Limited, and other finances and her links with a chattered accountant, Rajesh Agarwal, who was arrested by the agency earlier.

The ED on July 8 conducted searches at three Delhi farmhouses of Ms Bharti, her husband Shailesh Kumar and the firm. Her husband was also summoned on Monday but he skipped the date. The ED raids on July 8 came a day after the CBI raided multiple premises of Mr Prasad and his family in a corruption case probe.

The latest summons to Ms Bharti and her husband are related to a Rs 8,000 crore money laundering probe being conducted by the agency against two Delhi-based businessmen brothers, Surendra Kumar Jain and Virendra Jain, and others who are alleged to have laundered several crore rupees using over 90 shell companies. 

The ED under the PMLA had earlier arrested the Jain brothers. One of the firms that the arrested duo dealt with was Ms Mishail Printers and Packers Private Limited. Ms Bharti and her husband were allegedly the directors of this firm in the past.