Lucknow: The enforcement directorate interrogated here on Thursday, Louise Khurshid, the wife of former MP, Union minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid. The questioning was part of investigation into a money-laundering linked to the alleged misuse of govt funds in distribution of artificial limbs and equipment by a trust headed by Louise.
ED sources said Louise faced inquiry for multiple accusations against her and would be summoned again for further questioning. Last week, she was called to depose at the ED zonal office in Lucknow to record her statement under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The money laundering case dates back to an FIR filed by the state police in 2017. Recently, an MP-MLA court in Bareilly issued an arrest warrant against Louise Khurshid and another accused in the case, setting Feb 16 as the next date for hearing .
In 2009-10, Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust for Disabled Persons, chaired by Louise Khurshid, organised a programme for distribution of artificial limbs and equipment in the Bhojipura area of the district. Govt investigations, prompted by allegations of discrepancies, revealed misuse of govt funds through use of counterfeit seals and signatures in the programme.
The main accused in the case, including Louise Khurshid, project manager Pratyush Shukla (now deceased) and trust secretary Athar Farooqui, face serious allegations. The economic offences wing initiated a probe in 2012 after state govt examined its financial report for fiscal year 2009-10. FIR was lodged against the Zakir Hussain Trust for cheating at the Kaimganj police station in Farrukhabad district on June 9, 2017. Earlier, similar FIR was lodged in Sadar Kotwali of Kannauj district, with EOW subsequently filing a chargesheet in 2018.
