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Thomas Isaac | Photo: Binoj P
Kochi: The Kerala High Court here on Friday has sought an explanation from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over former finance minister Thomas Isaac’s writ petition challenging the agency’s summons for interrogation in connection with the financial transactions of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
The plea claimed that ED in its second notice unjustifiably directed Isaac to produce his personal financial accounts for the past 10 years and details of the company in which he served as director. It also wanted Isaac to give oral submission on the matter.
Over the plea, the court reportedly made an oral remark to ED that the privacy of the person should be respected and such limits should not be breached.
The court also sought ED’s explanation on why new demands were raised in the second notice. In the first notice, ED had sought accounts and records of the company in which Isaac held the director post while serving as the minister. While ED demanded details of Isaac's personal financial matters in its second notice.
Meanwhile, ED informed the court that the probe is to examine whether there are some kind of FEMA violations and the notice was issued as per the mandates in the rule book. The agency also claimed that Isaac has been called up as a witness in the matter.
However, the counsel for Isaac informed the court that the ED has been probing the matter as if Isaac is the accused. The agency has been demanding details and sending the summons without any proper explanation.
The court will take up the matter again on August 17. The ED is expected to file the explanation by then.
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