The Supreme Court of India today dismissed the plea filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee, challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) summons in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal. The case involves a money laundering probe by the ED, which has accused the Banerjees of being involved in a scam worth crores of rupees.
A bench comprising Justices Bela Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma rejected the petition, which sought to challenge the ED’s summons directing Abhishek Banerjee to appear in New Delhi. Banerjee argued that the summons violated procedural norms, citing that under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Criminal Procedure Code should apply, necessitating his appearance before the probe team in Kolkata instead of New Delhi.
The Supreme Court, after reserving its judgment on August 13, ruled against Banerjee’s contentions, thereby upholding the ED’s right to summon him in the national capital.
The ED had earlier named Banerjee in a chargesheet filed in June 2023, alleging his involvement in a scheme where bribes were paid to secure teaching jobs in West Bengal schools. The central agency also alleged that Rujira Banerjee, as a director of a private company, was involved in diverting tainted money linked to the scam.
Both Abhishek Banerjee and the TMC have consistently denied the allegations, labeling the ED’s actions as part of a political vendetta.
