Enforcement Directorate notices to suspended MP IAS couple

BHOPAL: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has served notices to suspended Madhya Pradesh IAS couple -- Arvind and Tinu Joshi -- for alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act ( FEMA).

The move comes after the submission of a 7,000-page appraisal report by the Income Tax department to Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary, Avni Vaish and Lokayukta P V Naolekar, in which their worth has been valued at a whooping Rs 360-crore.

The notices were issued to the officer-duo as Arvind Joshi's two Non-Resident Indian (NRI) sisters- Vibha and Abha- purchased agricultural land in violation of the FEMA rules.

It also seeks an explaination from the couple as to how and why they made several investments in violation of FEMA.

Documents with the I-T department showed that Arvind Joshi bought about 100 acres of agricultural land in various parts of Madhya Pradesh in violation of Section Six (3)(1) of the FEMA.

The RBI prohibits acquiring of agricultural land, plantations and farmhouses by NRIs in the country.

I-T department sources said that an intimation had already been given to the ED about purchase of land in the name of Arvind Joshi's sisters and recovery of foreign exchange from their residence.

Meanwhile, MP Congress has demanded their dismissal from service.

"I am surprised that the Joshis have not been dismissed from service so far," State Congress spokesman K K Mishra said in a statement.

The couple was suspended after I-T sleuths recovered Rs three crore in cash from their residence during a raid in February last year.

Both Arvind and Tinu, who are 1979-batch IAS Officers of the Madhya Pradesh Cadre, have held important positions in the Centre since the late 80s.