The Enforcement Directorate has summoned former Punjab chief minister and senior BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh and his son Raninder Singh in a long-standing FEMA violation case linked to alleged undisclosed foreign assets.
The summons were issued for February 12 and 13, but neither appeared Amarinder due to recent knee surgery and Raninder citing other reasons prompting political debate. Days after the notices, the senior ED official who issued the summons was transferred, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders who see political motives in the action.
The case, rooted in 2016 allegations of foreign accounts and assets, has resurfaced months after judicial approval for the ED to inspect income-tax records. Political figures have reacted across party lines, intensifying the story’s resonance ahead of crucial state elections.
ED Summons, Transfer Spark Controversy
The Enforcement Directorate has formally summoned Capt Amarinder Singh and Raninder Singh in connection with an alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, related to foreign assets including Swiss bank accounts that authorities say were not disclosed.
According to official notices, Raninder was to appear on February 12 and Amarinder on February 13 at the ED’s Jalandhar office. However, both did not show up: Amarinder is reportedly recovering from a knee-replacement operation at a private hospital in Mohali, while Raninder did not attend, with reports indicating he sought exemption given his father’s medical condition.
Raninder Singh took to social media platform X, stating that as “law-abiding citizens, we will cooperate fully with every investigation agency” and emphasising their “absolute faith in the rule of law”. This marks Amarinder’s first summons in this particular phase of the probe, while Raninder had been questioned earlier in 2016 and again in 2020.
In a development that has stirred political rhetoric, the Union Ministry of Finance ordered the transfer of Additional Director Ravi Tiwari, the senior ED official who issued the summons, to Chennai, and appointed Dinesh Pachauri as his replacement at the Jalandhar zonal office. While ED officials have insisted the transfer was routine and not punitive, critics contend that the timing immediately after the summons suggests otherwise.
Origin Of The FEMA Probe And Judicial Backing
The case dates back to 2016 when the Income Tax Department filed a prosecution complaint alleging that Amarinder Singh and Raninder were beneficiaries of foreign assets, held through offshore entities and accounts in Switzerland and the British Virgin Islands.
The complaint, submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Ludhiana, cited information obtained through official channels, including details provided by French authorities under India’s Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. Documents reportedly linked the father-son duo to foreign accounts, the Jacaranda Trust and offshore business structures.
In subsequent years, Raninder was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in 2016 and later in 2020, with the 2020 summons focusing on alleged fund movements to Switzerland and the operations of the Jacaranda Trust. Amarinder and his son had challenged the ED’s access to sensitive income-tax records, arguing that the documents were confidential.
However, in September 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld lower court rulings allowing the ED to inspect these records, dismissing objections based on the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with France and affirming the agency’s authority under FEMA. This judicial clearance has enabled the latest round of summons to the father-son duo.
Political Reactions And Implications Ahead Of Key Elections
The ED’s move and the transfer of its senior Jalandhar officer have drawn sharp political reactions in Punjab’s charged political environment.
Congress leaders have seized the moment to criticise what they perceive as targeted actions. Jalandhar MLA Pargat Singh accused the central leadership of using investigative agencies against political dissenters and claimed Amarinder was being singled out after he publicly questioned his position within the BJP and criticised the party’s stance on Punjab’s issues. Singh warned that such tactics send a chilling message to regional leaders considering alignment with national parties like the BJP or the Aam Aadmi Party.
Meanwhile, the transfer of the ED official prompted further criticism from opposition voices, with some alleging political motives behind prosecutions and transfers, framing them as part of a broader pattern of central agencies being used to intimidate critics.
Within the BJP, there has been support for due process. State acting BJP President Ashwani Sharma visited Amarinder Singh in hospital, enquiring about his health, signalling internal party solidarity amid the unfolding investigation.
The story is gaining heightened attention because it involves prominent political figures and centres on issues of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. With state elections looming, actions involving former chief ministers and national executive members carry resonance beyond legal argument into political symbolism and mobilisation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
In a robust democracy, the enforcement of laws governing foreign assets and fiscal compliance is essential to preserve institutional integrity and public trust. Equally important is that investigative actions, especially those involving high-profile political leaders, are executed transparently, without any hint of partisanship or selective targeting.
The transfer of senior officials immediately following summons even if routine raises questions about perceptions of fairness in public institutions. It is crucial for agencies such as the ED to uphold due process, communicate judiciously, and avoid actions that could erode confidence across the political spectrum.
