SC grants Abhishek Banerjee, wife Rujira protection from arrest in coal smuggling case
India Today
The Supreme court has granted Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee protection from arrest in the coal scam case and has allowed them to appear for questioning in Kolkata.
The Supreme Court has agreed to grant protection to Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira in the coal smuggling case. The top court also allowed her to be questioned in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Moreover, it agreed to examine the legal issue of whether such protection can be extended only to women or extended to all persons.
READ | Coal smuggling case: TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee did not cooperate during ED questioning, say sources
A notice in this regard has been issued to the Enforcement Directorate and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The ED summoned Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira to appear for questioning at its Delhi office on March 21 and 22. Banerjee and his wife had earlier moved the Delhi High Court against the ED's summons, but the court refused to grant them any relief. The parliamentarian has repeatedly stated that the ED should question him and his wife in Kolkata and not in Delhi.
WATCH | Who is Rujira and why is she under CBI lens?
A bailable warrant was issued later when Rujira failed to appear in Delhi for questioning by ED.
