New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has questioned National Conference vice president leader and former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah n the J&K Bank scam case.
Omar Abdullah had to travel to Delhi and was questioned by the ED at 11 am at their headquarters in the national capital. Speaking to media after he moved out of the ED headquarters, Omar said that the agency did not accuse him of anything and only questioned him in connection with the case. "They (ED) didn't accuse me of anything. They called me for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation of a 12-13-yr-old case. I answered them as much as I could. I will further help them if they need me," Omar Abdullah said.
He was being questioned by the ED in connection with a case registered by the ED earlier this year to probe the purchase of a building in Mumbai by the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, officials of the agency said, according to news agency PTI. Meanwhile, National Conference said that Omar was called by the ED to Delhi to appear before it on Thursday on the grounds that his attendance was necessary in connection with an investigation. "Even though this exercise is political in nature he will cooperate as there is no wrongdoing on his part," the party said in a tweet on its official Twitter handle.
In a detailed statement shared on the social media platform, the NC said that in spite of it being the holy month of Ramzan, and Delhi not being his primary place of residence, Omar Abdullah did not seek a postponement or a change of venue and appeared as per the notice. "The central government has made a habit of misusing investigative agencies and this is another step in the same direction. No political party that puts up meaningful opposition to the BJP has been spared, whether it is the ED, CBI, NIA, NCB - all have been used for political purposes," the party said.
National Conference said that "there was a time when elections were announced by the EC but now it seems that elections are announced by the ED". "Over recent years we have seen that where ever state elections are due, agencies like the ED move in and target those parties who pose a challenge to the BJP," the statement read.
"This summons to our Vice President is in the same vein. We have no doubt that this fishing expedition will yield no concrete results for the BJP and the people will give a ringing endorsement to the national conference as and when required," it added. NC said the summons was "another step in the vicious vilification campaign that started even before 5th August 2019, when constitutional position holders like the then Governor were used to make slanderous accusations against opponents of the BJP, knowing full well that there was no legal recourse available to those at the receiving end of these lies".
"Even though this exercise is political in nature, Omar Abdullah will cooperate with investigative agencies as there is no wrongdoing on his part and he is not an accused in any matter under investigation," it added.
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