Enforcement Directorate defends summons to Dalmia

Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate has defended its action before the Hyderabad High Court of summoning Dalmia Cements MD Punith Dalmia in connection with the illegal investments case of YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Additional solicitor general G. Rajagopalan told Justice Vilas V. Afzulpurkar said that a suspect or an accused is not free to decide whether or not to respect the summons issued by the ED under the Money Laundering Act.

The judge was hearing a plea by Mr Dalmia challenging the summons issued to him by the ED. Refuting the contention of former Union minister and senior counsel P. Chidambaram that his client, Mr Dalmia, had a right to remain silent, Mr Rajagopalan said that the proceedings before the two investigation agencies, CBI and ED, were different and distinct.