ED removes ADLEVEL OFFICER FROM VVIP CHOPPER CASE

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has removed an Assistant Director-level case officer working the Agustawestland case at the financial probe agency, holding him responsible for an incident where Ratul Puri had disappeared while summoned for interrogation.

Speaking to the Millennium Post, a senior official said that the AD, who was the Investigating Officer of the case, was first issued a show-cause notice, following which he was removed from the case.

He said that an explanation has been sought from the IO as to how Puri, who is the nephew of Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath could have fled while questioning.

Late in July this year, Puri had been summoned to be questioned in connection with the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP Chopper scam and after a few hours of interrogation, he had asked for a toilet break.

However, Puri had given ED officials the slip and left the building where he was being deposed.

Officials had at the time said they tried to contact him on the phone after he failed to come back and found that his number was switched off.

However, at the time, one of Puri's lawyer's had said that his client had not fled from questioning but had in fact informed officials that he had a busy schedule and yet answered the summons.

But eventually, the ED registered a separate money-laundering case against him and his father's company Moser Baer, based on a bank fraud case by CBI and then proceeded to arrest him. He is still in ED custody in connection with the Moser Baer probe.