Chandigarh, February 11
In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a summons to former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, directing him to appear before the agency on February 12. Besides Capt. Amarinder, summons have also been issued to his son Raninder Singh. The summons have been issued in connection with an old case registered under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Reliable sources confirm that the notice has been served, though Capt Amarinder, currently admitted to Fortis Hospital, Mohali for a knee-related ailment, was unavailable for comment.
Capt. Amarinder close aides have acknowledged the summons but emphasized that his medical condition makes his appearance tomorrow improbable. What adds weight to the development is not just Amarinder’s stature as a senior BJP leader but also the fact that he is a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) – the central decision-making body that shapes BJP’s political and organizational strategy.
The issuance of the summons by a central agency, less than a year before Punjab heads to the polls, has triggered intense speculation in political circles. Analysts note that the timing raises questions about the interplay of law, politics and electoral strategy in the state’s shifting landscape.
According to sources, the Enforcement Directorate’s notice to Capt. Amarinder is tied to an investigation into a trust linked with his son, Raninder Singh. The summons, issued under FEMA provisions, forms part of a probe scrutinizing financial transactions routed through offshore trusts in Switzerland and the British Virgin Islands.
In first reaction from Capt. Amarinder’s family, his son Raninder Singh posted on X: “As law-abiding citizens, we will cooperate fully with every investigation agency. We have absolute faith in the rule of law and are confident that truth and justice will prevail.”
