Would be available for questioning after polls, Saayoni tells ED

Trinamool Youth Congress leader Saayoni Ghosh, who was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, stated that she would not be able to appear before the sleuths as she would be busy with campaigning for the Panchayat polls.

Ghosh, however, assured that she would make herself available for interrogation once the poll was over.

Saayoni was expected to appear at the ED office at 11 am on Wednesday concerning the recruitment corruption case in the state’s education sector. Saayoni is being probed after her name cropped up while interrogating another Kuntal Ghosh. ED officials want to know if any financial transaction was made between them.

Sayooni underwent interrogation for about 11 hours on June 30 but allegedly did not produce the documents which she was asked to bring. Hence she was asked to produce those the next time.

Saayoni did not appear on Wednesday and instead is learnt to have sent a detailed communication to the ED informing that she will be unavailable till the Panchayat polls since she is engaged in campaigning for her party. She left for Galsi, East Burdwan for campaigning where she told the media that she had sent all the documents to the Central agency that were asked of her.

“I have also informed them (ED) that I will make myself available whenever it’s convenient to them once the election is over. In the meantime, if there is any urgency then I can appear through virtual medium,” she said.

Sources said that the ED officials are disappointed with her action since initially the Central agency wanted to meet her on July 3 but it was allegedly Saayoni who decided on the date July 5. ED sources said that the Central agency is considering her absence as “non-cooperation” and is consulting their legal counsels to decide on their next course of action.

Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh questioned why the Central agencies are repeatedly summoning TMC leaders at the time of the election.

He said that previously even Abhishek was summoned while he was engaged in the Nabajowar campaign. He said that Saayoni has already submitted the documents asked from her and highlighted that she wasn’t summoned through any notice but verbally.

He confirmed that she will be engaged in campaigning on July 5 and July 6.