INX media case: ED gets permission to question Peter Mukherjea

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday got permission from the special CBI court to question and record statement of Peter Mukherjea in connection with the INX Media case being investigated by the agency.

Peter and his wife along with Indrani's ex husband Sanjeev Khanna are accused of murdering Indrani's daughter from her first husband, Sheena Bora in 2012.

The trio are in judicial custody while hearing of the case is going on.

ED is investigating an Rs 304 crore money laundering scam which involves INX media, a company created by Peter and Indrani in 2006.

Peter and Indrani along with Peter's son from his first wife Rabin had set up INX media private limited in 2006 in Mumbai.

They had then sought permission of the Foreign Investment Approval Board for investment through FDI route from three non-resident investors.

ED in their application to the CBI court stated that INX News deliberately concealed the fact that they had already received investment to the extent of 26% including FDI, and in pursuance to criminal conspiracy again approached FIPB and sought permission for the downstream investment.

ED investigation has revealed that FIPB, in its letter on 31st may 2007, permitted INX media to receive foreign investment for Rs 46.2 million approx as total investment inflow including premium.

INX media however received foreign investment totalling Rs 3053.6 million during the period 22 August 2007 to 12 may 2008.

Thus excess foreign exchange award equivalent to Rs 3007.4 million beyond the disclosed and permitted foreign investment was received by INX media from 3 Mauritius based foreign investors.

Officers from the agency quizzed Indrani in connection with the case on November 24 for nine hours, sources from the agency claimed that Indrani provided them with some vital clues regarding the case.

Indrani will be quizzed again by a team of ED officers from the Delhi zonal unit.

Meanwhile based on the clues that the officers had gathered from Indrani, the agency moved CBI court to question Peter.

The CBI court granted the permission and Peter will be questioned on Friday and Saturday within the Arthur road jail premises where he is presently lodged.