NEW DELHI: A team of ED sleuths quizzed senior
Congress leader
Ahmed Patel at his residence for the fourth time in connection with its ongoing
money laundering probe against Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company
Sterling Biotech.
He was questioned for over eight hours on Thursday. Patel was earlier questioned on July 2 for ten hours and on for eight and a half hours on June 27 for the first time. Last month, ED had summoned Patel to join the investigation. But citing Covid-19 guidelines and his old age, he had skipped the summons twice. The agency has already questioned Patel’s son and son-in-law. Patel has denied allegations of accepting bribes from a middleman for a Delhi-based entrepreneur arrested in connection with the case.
Patel has denied allegations of accepting a bribe from a middleman for a Delhi based entrepreneur arrested in connection with Sterling Biotech case.
As per agency sources, a witness in the case had revealed about the alleged proximity between Chetan Sandesara, Ahmed Patel, his son Faisal Patel and son-in-law Irfan Siddiqui. It is alleged that Siddiqui was close to Chetan Sandesara and often used to visit him. According to a witness whose statement has been recorded by ED, Chetan and co-accused Gagan Dhawan used to carry huge amounts of cash in bags to Siddiqui’s house in Vasant Vihar. It is further alleged that Chetan used to refer to Patel’s residence as headquarters.