Former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal (Press Trust of India file photo)
The Enforcement Directorate will question four persons as part of the probe into money laundering allegations against former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
The four are employees of a Singapore-based company in which Armstrong Energy Private Limited, a firm owned by Mr Bhujbal, had invested money.
The four were the initial investors to the Singapore-based company. Later, funds to the tune of $5 million (Rs 30 crore) were transferred from the accounts of Armstrong Energy to Singapore, sources said.
The ED had written to the Reserve Bank of India regarding the transfer. The decision to summon the Armstrong Energy employees was made after receiving a response.
After questioning the four employees, the Enforcement Directorate will summon the Bhujbals if need be. But sources said there was no evidence yet of Mr Bhujbal purchasing a coal mine.
On Wednesday, the agency filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Mr Bhujbal and his relations.
The former minister is already facing a probe by the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau, or ACB, which has raided 26 of his properties so far in relation to a corruption case.
The former minister owns properties across Maharashtra - which includes shops, flats and houses and even a 65-acre bungalow with a helipad across Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nashik.
Today, the Bombay High Court asked the ACB to complete its investigation and submit a final report within two months.
In December, the court had asked that a Special Investigation Team comprising officials of the ACB and ED be set up to probe 11 different allegations of irregularities relating to money laundering by private companies run by Bhujbal, his sons and relatives.