Praful Patel Appears Before Enforcement Directorate for Questioning

Mumbai: Former Union Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel on Friday deposed before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to a money-laundering probe involving alleged deals between Millennium Developers promoted by him and his wife Varsha with the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s close aide late Iqbal Mirchi’s family members. According to the ED officials, Praful Patel arrived at the ED office in Mumbai here in the morning and was being questioned under the sections of Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA).

The probe agency officials said he is being questioned about the 15-storey Ceejay House developed by Millennium Developers and two floors are given to the family members of Mirchi.

The official also said that Praful Patel will be asked about his relations with Mirchi’s first wife Hajra Memon, who was the beneficiary of the two floors in the Ceejay House here. The NCP leader though claimed that she got these through M.K. Mohammad who earlier owned restaurants on the property that was knotted in legal disputes. Praful Patel has denied any wrongdoing or any links with Mirchi or his associates.

The ED official also said that the agency will also ask Praful Patel about over a dozen shell companies identified during the questioning of several people linked with the Mirchi family.

The probe agency earlier this week had questioned Mirchi’s brother-in-law Mukhtar Memon, who controls most of the properties in India. (IANS)

Also Read: Mirchi Land Deals: ED Summons NCP Leader Praful Patel on Friday

Also Watch: Security forces foiled alleged kidnapping attempt in Pengri