ED summons Praful Patel in money laundering case linked to Iqbal Mirchi

The ED has summoned senior NCP leader Praful Patel in connection with its money laundering probe linked to alleged illegal assets of late Iqbal Mirchi, an aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, officials said Tuesday. They said Patel, a former Union minister in the UPA regime, has been asked to depose in Mumbai on October 18.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to record Patel’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with a deal between a real estate company promoted by Patel and his wife and wife of Mirchi. He has already been questioned by the ED in an another money laundering case linked to the aviation scam.

According to ED officials, Patel’s Millennium Developers Pvt Ltd constructed a building called Ceejay House in 2006-07 and its third and fourth floors were transferred to Mirchi’s wife Hajra Iqbal. The land on which the building tower was made is said to be owned by Mirchi. Investigators claim the land was purchased from the proceeds of crime of money laundering, drugs trafficking and alleged extortion crimes.