The Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the J&K Bank fraud case has reached the doorstep of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. Omar is being questioned by the agency at its headquarters in New Delhi.
This is the first time summons were issued to Omar Abdullah and he turned up at the ED office for questioning.
According to sources, Omar Abdullah is being questioned in relation to the J&K Bank scam case already under investigation by the agency, which had filed a complaint in the matter.
The ED had been probing the role of several senior political leaders who opened bank accounts in which alleged irregularities were found during investigation. Illegal transactions, anomalies and inadequate documentation had revealed that money had allegedly been transferred to unauthorised accounts from some of these accounts, which led to charges of misappropriation of funds and money laundering being slapped in the case.
The J&K Bank scam had also spilled the beans on huge loans being given without collaterals to entities that had defaulted. Two former chairpersons of J&K Bank have already been accused of colluding with political leaders to allegedly appoint people in key positions in the bank to facilitate the loans.
Omar Abdullah, however, was prompt in his response to the ED as he appeared in person for questioning. Sources said the exact role of the politician will only be ascertained after the investigation is complete. Omar Abdullah is likely to be given a questionnaire regarding transactions and appointments made during his tenure as chief minister. Besides him, the alleged role of another chief minister—Mehbooba Mufti—was also under the scanner in the case.
The National Conference issued a statement on the Enforcement Directorate action. The party alleged the Centre was continuing its alleged practice of misusing investigative agencies against opposition parties.
The National Conference alleged the summons to Omar Abdullah was another step in the “vicious vilification campaign” that started even before revocation of Article 370.
It assured Omar Abdullah would cooperate with the investigation as there was no wrongdoing on his part.