New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday questioned key aides of business tycoon Vijay Mallya for second day in connection with the money laundering probe in the alleged default of over Rs 900 crore loan from IDBI bank, sources said.
According to the sources, former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of long-grounded carrier Kingfisher Airlines, A Raghunathan is being questioned by the ED officials.
The ED on Friday issued summons for appearance to liquor baron Vijay Mallya and asked him to appear before March 18.
The ED had issued summons to over half a dozen officials of the IDBI bank and Vijay Mallya-owned KFA under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) wherein all the individuals have been asked to submit details about their personal finances and Income Tax Returns (ITRs) of last five years to the investigators.
According to an official, in his statement to the SFIO--recorded in February-- Raghunathan has blamed Mallya (for the financial crisis that befell KFA) and said he worked as per the directions from the latter.
Apart from Raghunathan, summons have also been issued to former Chairman and Managing Director of the bank, Yogesh Agarwal and other senior executive members and officials of both the organisations.
The ED recently registered a money laundering case against Mallya and others based on a CBI FIR registered in 2015. The agency is also investigating the overall financial structure of Kingfisher Airlines and if any possible kick backs were made.
The ED has pressed charges under various sections of the PMLA against Mallya and others named in the CBI complaint. The CBI had booked Mallya, director of Kingfisher Airlines, the company, Raghunathan and unknown officials of IDBI Bank in its FIR alleging that the loan was sanctioned in violation of norms regarding credit limits.
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