ED ISSUES FRESH SUMMONS TO RELATIVES OF MOIN QURESHI

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to two family members of meat exporter Moin Qureshi to seek information and clarifications from them in its Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) probe into the alleged payments made by him using hawala channels.

Around three weeks ago, the agency had issued summons to Qureshi’s family members, including his wife, but the quizzing could not take place as they did not turn up. “The two family members were to come last week, but did not. The agency has issued fresh summons to them,” said a government source, who is familiar with the probe.

HT could not reach Qureshi for his reaction, but he has denied any wrongdoing on his or his family’s part. The ED is examining allegations that the payments were primarily made to settle the expenses of Qureshi and his family — including for hotel stays and shopping trips — abroad. The agency is probing alleged payments made abroad via firms located in Dubai and Hong Kong and a few Delhi-based hawala operators.

In February, the agency had carried out searches at seven premises, including five belonging to Qureshi and two of suspected hawala operators, in connection with its probe. The agency had also questioned Qureshi later. ED had in January began proceedings under FEMA against Qureshi to probe the alleged contraventions. Qureshi had come under the Income Tax (I-T) department’s scanner last February for alleged tax evasion.