The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday filed a money laundering case against Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani in the cash-for-query case.
Earlier, Central Bureau Of Investigation had filed an FIR against Moitra and Hiranandani in the case, based on which this case was registered.
As per reports the ED case was registered two-three days ago.
It has been probing them under the civil sections of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and has called Moitra and Dubai-based businessman Hiranandani in this case for questioning but they have not disposed till now, citing official engagements.
CBI officials informed the media that the CBI registered an FIR against her and Hiranandani on the directives of Lokpal which has instructed the agency to file its report within six months.
The Lokpal has directed the CBI after receiving the results of its initial investigation into the accusations made by BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey against Moitra.
Dubey claimed that Moitra received cash and gifts from Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions in Lok Sabha that aimed to criticize industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others.
Last week, Moitra announced that she would be focusing on her campaign in the Krishnanagar constituency instead of appearing for ED questioning at their office in New Delhi.
The investigative agency had sent new summonses to Moitra and Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani to be questioned in a case involving a violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The TMC leader was summoned for interrogation on two occasions before by the central agency, but she refused to give a statement, claiming official duties and requesting a postponement of the notification.
Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December for "unethical conduct", will be running in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for the Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal.
