The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 2 June, allowed Trinamool Congress's National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee to go to Dubai for medical treatment. This comes even as the Enforcement Direcorate (ED), which is probing the two in a coal smuggling scam, opposed their travel.
In his appeal, Banerjee stated that he had requested the central agency to spare him from questioning for some time as he would have to go abroad for his ophthalmological treatment, but that his request had been denied.
The ED had challenged the plea, stating in the court that Banerjee, during his visit, could meet TMC leader Vinay Mishra, the prime accused in the coal scam case.
The case against the Banerjees relate to an alleged multi-crore coal pilferage scam connected to Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines.
Last month, the Supreme Court had stayed the Delhi High Court's order which dismissed Banerjee and his wife's challenge to the ED's summons in the case.
The apex court had instead granted permission to the ED to question the Banerjees in Kolkata. The top court allowed ED to summon Banerjee at its Kolkata office instead of in Delhi, and stated that it will not tolerate any hooliganism or obstruction when the ED questions Banerjee in Kolkata.
A bailable warrant issued against the two was also stayed by the Supreme Court.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)