'He's independent': Kamal Nath on nephew Ratul Puri summoned by ED in AgustaWestland case

Reacting to Enforcement Directorate’s summon to his nephew Ratul Puri for interrogation in a money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Thursday said he has nothing to do with the former’s business.

While Nath said that an investigation should be conducted, he wondered why such issues came up during elections.

“He's independent, he has nothing to do with politics and I have nothing to do with his business. Whatever there is, it must be investigated but how these issues come up during elections only?” he said.

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday told a Delhi court that Puri was summoned for interrogation in a money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam.

Puri has reportedly denied any wrongdoing on his part in the AgustaWestland case. "I am cooperating with the investigation. I have no connection with AgustaWestland or defence. I run an independent business. I have no business dealings with any relative of mine," ANI reported Puri as saying.

According to ED sources, Puri's name appeared in the statement recorded by middleman and Dubai-based businessman Rajeev Saxena, who recently turned approver in the case.

ED told Special Judge Arvind Kumar that Puri, Chairman of Hindustan Powerprojects Pvt Ltd, was summoned for confronting him with Sushen Mohan Gupta, an arrested middleman in the case, whose custodial interrogation was today extended by three more days by the court.

Seeking the extension of Gupta's custody, ED told the court that he was required to be confronted with various people including Puri in the case pertaining to the now scrapped Rs 3,600 crore chopper deal.