Opposition leaders have written to the Enforcement Directorate regarding the Adani issue.
New Delhi, March 15 (PTI) Leaders of several opposition parties on Wednesday urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to initiate a probe into allegations of corruption including money laundering by Adani Group and shell companies.
In a letter emailed to ED director SK Mishra, the parties told the probe agency, “it cannot turn back and waive its jurisdiction”.
The letter was signed by leaders of Congress, CPI, CPI-M, JDU, SS (UPD), RJD, DMK, JMM, AAP, IUML, VK, Kerala Congress and other parties.
The opposition leaders, who were marching from the Parliament premises to file a complaint with the Enforcement Directorate regarding the Adani issue, were stopped by the police at Vijay Chowk.
In their letter to the ED, the opposition leaders said, “We are well aware of how in the recent past, the ED has been keenly pursuing politically motivated cases including sharing jurisdiction simultaneously with SEBI and the CBI. The limited scope of the Appointed Supreme Court Commission in this matter. This or other We point this out to remind you that the ED cannot turn around and waive its jurisdiction for reasons.
“We the opposition members request immediate action on the above mentioned allegations,” they told the ED director.
The letter further stated that in the last three months, several key pieces of evidence against the Adani Group have become available in the public domain.
“However, the Enforcement Directorate, which claims to pursue such cases with vigor and integrity, is yet to initiate even a preliminary inquiry into these very serious allegations.
“As a result, we are constrained to file this official complaint, thereby compelling the ED to investigate a relationship that has grave implications not only for our economy, but more importantly for our democracy,” they said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who shared the content of the letter on Twitter, said, “Leaders and MPs of 16 opposition parties who were going to submit a complaint letter to the ED regarding the Adani scam were stopped from coming to the ED office. This afternoon”.
Opposition leaders alleged that the case involves serious and far-reaching charges of corporate fraud, political corruption, manipulation of stock prices through fraudulent means and misuse/monopoly of public resources.
The letter alleged that the Adani Group companies had set up a network of offshore shell companies controlled by parties related to the Adani Group to artificially inflate the share price and give a distorted image. On Financial Health of Group Companies”.
The Adani Group has rejected all allegations leveled against its companies and denied any “wrongdoing” earlier alleged by the US-based Hindenburg report.
In the letter, the opposition also mentioned the recovery of manufactured drugs from the Mundra port in September 2021, alleging that there was no serious investigation into the company accused of running the port.
“Considering the cross-border implications, it is even more surprising that the ED’s jurisdiction was never invoked in the investigation,” the opposition leaders alleged.
Talking about the loans received by the Adani Group from various public sector banks, the opposition leaders alleged a “clear pattern of corruption, cronyism and violation of customary law”.
“Despite all the above, it is surprising that the ED has shown little interest in pursuing a fundamental inquiry into the affairs of the companies,” they alleged.
