Amarinder's son Raninder appears before ED; questioned for six hours

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 19

Raninder Singh, son of Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation case on Thursday. He was questioned for over six hours.

While Raninder Singh arrived at the ED office at 11 am, he left after six hours.

This is the third time Raninder was summoned by the ED this year. He was unable to appear before the ED on October 27 due to a meeting in the Rajya Sabha, and on November 6 on health reasons. He was accompanied by Congress spokesperson and lawyer Jaiveer Shergill today.

Raninder’s last appearance before the ED was on July 21, 2016.

Emerging out of the ED office after questioning, Raninder told the media, “I am a law abiding citizen of the country and I have appeared in front the ED today. I am happy to appear at this time or any time whenever we are called by the ED or any government agency. We will continue to co-operate with the inquiry.”

While key Congress leaders have time and again alleged political vendetta in the timing of his summoning by the ED; when questioned whether he thought there was any politics involved in the issue summoning, Raninder said, “I can’t comment any further on the issue as the case is subject to inquiry. I leave this to your judgment.”

While commenting on the long duration of the questioning, lawyer Jaiveer Shergill said, “That is standard operating procedure of the ED. Earlier also, he has been questioned for five hours. We are extending all cooperation.”

The ED probe concerns an investigation into assets acquired abroad and movement of funds – a case first investigated by the Income Tax department. The IT probe alleged there were discrepancies in the full disclosure of assets – a charge denied by Raninder.