In what could heap embarrassment to one of India’s most prominent law enforcing agencies, the nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Friday fled from the office of Enforcement Directorate during a toilet break. Ratul Puri, Kamal Nath’s nephew, was summoned by the ED for questioning in the AgustaWestland choppers scam on Saturday.
A report by news agency ANI said that the court had ordered Puri to cooperate with the ED in the investigation and appear before them by 5 pm on Saturday.
Delhi Court grants interim protection to Ratul Puri (in file pic) from arresting till 29 July in connection with AgustaWestland money laundering case. Court has also asked Ratul Puri to join the investigation today at 5 pm at ED office. pic.twitter.com/MvfHh5VVJx
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2019
NDTV reported that Puri was to be ‘confronted with some evidence during questioning at an ED office in New Delhi on Friday’ but he did not wait as he allegedly left ‘on the pretext of going to the washroom. The ED has, however, denied the reports of Puri giving them a slip. The Hindu quoted an ED official as saying that another summon may be issued to Puri to join the investigation.
The reports of Puri fleeing from the ED office has become a talking point on social media.
Kamal Nath’s Nephew Gives ED the Slip During VVIP Chopper Scam Probe, Sneaks Out of Washroom
The ED tried to call Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath’s nephew Ratul Puri on his mobile phone, which was switched off. The agency is now thinking about summoning him again. pic.twitter.com/0NH4QGfnMn
— B.Sethia (@sethia_b) July 27, 2019
How investigation-agencies work under @narendramodi @AmitShah administration> #KamalNath nephew #RatulPuri was called 4 questioning in #VVIPChoppersScam case at @dir_ed. He took a washroom-break and then quietly slipped from ED offices.
Friendly match??https://t.co/rzcXHeZkCD
— #Intolerant भारतीय (Sanjeev Goyal) (@goyalsanjeev) July 27, 2019
#KillerKamalnath‘s nephew #RatulPuri escapes from #EnforcementDirectorate’s office on pretext of going to loo?
Puri was being questioned by #ED in #AugustaChopperScam! pic.twitter.com/pLGCJ8p8od
— Gitanjali D.S?? (@Gitanjali_DS) July 27, 2019
@OfficeOfKNath’s nephew Ratul Puri ran away from ED office during questioning on #agustawestland case.
He went to rest room and vanished……
Meanwhile, the killer of Sikhs himself is enjoying power, raking in money via corruption, investing the same with Muslim terrorists…
— Divya (@DivyaUvach) July 27, 2019
Meanwhile, a court in Delhi has given relief to Puri adding that he can’t be arrested by the ED at least until 29 July.
Ratul Puri is the son of Nita and Deepak Puri, the CMD of optical storage media firm Moser Baer. Nita Puri is Kamal Nath’s sister.