Kolkata, June 2 (UNI) The Calcutta High court on Thursday permitted All India Trinamool Congress’ national general secretary Abhisekh Banerjee to travel to Dubai for his eye treatment, along with his wife Rujira, rejecting an objection of the Enforcement Directorate as also an apprehension he may flee or meet an absconding accused in coal scam Vinay Mishra.
Allowing Banerjee to travel to Dubai, Calcutta high court Judge Bibek Choudhury said the TMC leader is not an accused in the FIR and has been cooperating with the ED in the probe of the coal trafficking case.
The court order happened after the lawyers of Banerjee had moved into the court alleging that the ED has denied him permission to go abroad for eye treatment.
Banerjee in an application to the ED had requested the central agency to spare him between June 3-10 as he wanted to go to Dunai along with his wife, Rujira, for his eye treatment. However, the ED had objected to his application.
The court said that Abhishek Banerjee will be able to go abroad for eye treatment. He will be accompanied by his wife Rujira when he goes to Dubai.
The High Court, however, directed Banerjee to give details of his movement to the ED like the flight tickets, phone number of the hotel and where he would undergo treatment ( hospital), court sources said.
” Abhishek Banerjee and his wife are not named in the FIR. When called, he went to the ED’s office. information has been given. As a result, there is no question of non-cooperation in the investigation, Abhishek’s lawyer claimed.
The ED had objected that Banerjee could go abroad and meet Vinay Mishra, one of the prime accused in the coal trafficking case. The ED also questioned what was the problem that Banerjee is not being treated in India? The ED had accused Abhishek of concealing medical information. The ED had expressed apprehension that Abhishek may flee to Dubai. However, the Calcutta High Court dismissed the claim. The High Court then asked a counter-question to ED that why it was not taking if they knew Vinay Mishra was in Dubai. “When you know Vinay Mishra is in Dubai, what action did you take?”. the high court asked the ED.
