ED summons PC’s wife in Saradha case

Officials said Nalini has been summoned at the Kolkata office of the central probe agency on May 7. 

The agency wants to record her statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) with regard to a specific link of her in this case, they said. The Madras High Court had last week dismissed a petition by Nalini in which she had challenged the ED summons to her to appear as a witness in this case. Justice SM Subramaniam had rejected Nalini’s contention that women cannot be called for investigation out of their place of residence under the CrPC Section 160 (police officer’s power to require attendance of witnesses), saying such exemptions are not mandatory and are subject to facts and circumstances of a case. Holding that such an exemption was not provided under the PMLA, the judge directed the Enforcement Directorate to issue fresh summons fixing a date for the investigation and proceed with it in accordance with law.