P Chidambaram’s wife Nalini moves HC over summons in Saradha scam

Justice SM Subramaniam, before whom the plea came up for hearing on Tuesday, adjourned the plea to April 13. The ED had issued summons on September 7, 2016, to Nalini over her receiving more than Rs 1 crore as fee from promoters of the Saradha Group.

Assailing the summons Nalini submitted that it was illegal, since as per section 160 of the Code of Civil Procedure, a woman cannot be summoned by police and instead inquiry should be held only at her residence. 

On September 21, 2016, a single judge of the court admitted the plea and granted interim relief by directing the ED not to take any precipitative action against her in connection with the case.

Nalini further submitted that over Rs 1 crore was paid to her for more than 25 appearances in courts and company law board, and that the money was paid by Saradha Group chairman Sudhipto Sen because it was a part of an agreement between Sudhipto and former Union minister Matang Singh’s wife Manoranjana over a television channel purchase deal.

She further submitted that the fee was paid in cheque and she had declared it in her tax returns. Moreover, the transactions had taken place well before the Saradha scam case, Nalini said.