EC Ashok Lavasa’s son questioned by ED in FEMA case

Nov 12, 2019
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has grilled Abir Lavasa, son of Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, for alleged violation of foreign exchange laws, according to a senior official of the financial investigating agency.

The ED questioning was in connection with a probe into investment of Rs 7.25 crore from Mauritius-based Saama Capital in March this year in Delhi-based Nourish Organic Foods Private Limited, in which Abir Lavasa is Director, the official said.

The ED summoned him and asked him to join probe, which he complied with and appeared on last Friday. “It is a case of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation,” the official said.

Abir Lavasa is Director in Nourish Organic Foods Private Limited since November 14, 2017. The company was established on November 18, 2002 and is based in South Delhi. Abir Lavasa holds 10,000 shares in the company, the official said.

The agency has also issued summons to the Director of Saama Capital and is going to issue summons to the former Directors of Nourish Organic Foods Private Limited, the official added.

The agency claimed that even after Nourish Organic Foods Private Limited was running in losses, it got investments from a Mauritius-based investor.

The other directors of the company are Ankush, Ashit Ranjit Lilani, Naresh Kumar and Seema Jajodia.

Sources said that Naresh Kumar and Seema Jajodia resigned when Abir was appointed as the Director of the company. Seema Jajodia is wife of Sandeep Jajodia, the Managing Director of Monnet Group.

Sources in ED said all the directors and former directors will be summoned for questioning.

Earlier in August this year, Income tax Department had issued tax notices to Abir’s company.

His mother Novel Singhal Lavasa also came under the scanner of the Income Tax Department on charges of alleged tax evasion. I-T department issued a notice seeking details in her returns with regard to holding directorship in about 10 companies. IANS