Kripashankar case: HC questions inaction of ED, I-T, ACB

Court also made inquiry about transactions between Singh's son and D B Realty.|

The division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice D G Karnik posed the question, why no action had been initiated after going through reports submitted by the three agencies.

Court was hearing a PIL that alleges that Singh has amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

"No criminal prosecution has been lodged on the basis of these reports? According to ACB report, Kripashankar has disproportionate assets up to Rs 43 lakh," the bench remarked.

Additional Solicitor General Darius Khambatta who appeared for ED and IT, and state Advocate General Ravi Kadam (for ACB) told the court that three agencies were sharing information and conducting preliminary enquiry; and would require more time.

The bench then directed the three agencies to share their reports, conduct further probe, and submit another report by April 28.

"What about the so-called interest-free loans received by the son? Is it not possible to connect the two?" Chief Justice Shah asked referring to the Rs 4.5 crore deposited in accounts of Singh's son and daughter-in-law by D B Realty.

Khambata said ED would require more time to probe this.

Petitioner Sanjay Tiwari had alleged last week that Dynamix Realty, a subsidiary of D B Realty which has come under the scanner in the 2G spectrum scam, had deposited Rs 4.5 crore in accounts of Singh's son Narendra Mohan and daughter-in-law Ankita in 2008-09.

"The IT inquiry is almost done. The agency has identified the sources of funds of Kripashankar's son. ED would now see if there is any money laundering. ED has found no evidence to indicate nexus between Singh and Madhu Koda," Khambatta said.

The PIL alleges that Singh, Mumbai Congress Chief, had close relations with former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Madhu Koda, currently in jail for alleged involvement in a hawala scam, and a lot of monetary transactions took place between them.

The PIL further states that Singh's son is married to Ankita, daughter of Kamlesh Singh, a minister in the Koda cabinet, also in jail in connection with the scam, and Ankita had received Rs 1.75 crore in her account from Kamlesh.