Jhk: Suspended Congress MLA appears before ED in a case involving a cash haul, rejects the accusations

Suspended Congress MLA Irfan Ansari appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here on Monday in connection with a cash seizure case.

Ansari reached the federal agency's zonal office here around 11 am in connection with its investigation into the cash seized from the car in which he was traveling along with party MLAs Rajesh Kachchap and Naman Bixal, the official said. The three MLAs were arrested by the West Bengal police after Rs 49 crore in cash was seized from their vehicle in Howrah district in July last year. 

“After returning from the ED office, I could say anything. But one thing I can say is that the allegations leveled against me are baseless. I am not involved in any conspiracy to topple the government,” Ansari told reporters before entering the office. Earlier, the ED had summoned Ansari on January 13, but he sought two weeks' time to appear before it.

On December 24, the ED questioned Congress MLA Kumar Jaimangal Singh alias Anup Singh for over nine hours in connection with the case. Singh filed a complaint at Ranchi's Argora police station, alleging that three MLAs offered him Rs 10 crore and a ministerial berth to topple the JMM-led Jharkhand government. Singh claimed that he was not summoned as an accused but as a complainant in the case. 

The ED is investigating the money laundering aspect of the case.