ED summons Nalini Chidambaram in Saradha scam probe

New Delhi, Aug 24  The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's wife Nalini Chidambaram for questioning in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, an official said on Wednesday.

The official refused to divulge the date when she will be questioned, but said the agency has "certain evidence" against her in the case for which she has been asked to appear before the investigators.

Nalini, a Chennai-based senior lawyer, came under the ED's probe ambit after Saradha chairman Sudipta Sen alleged he had paid over Rs 1 crore to her at the instance of Manoranjana Singh, the estranged wife of Congress leader Matang Singh.

Sen made the allegation against Nalini through his letter sent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April 2013.

Sen informed the CBI that he had paid for Nalini's visits to Kolkata and for her stays at a five-star hotel.

He also alleged that Nalini pressured him to invest Rs 42 crore in Manoranjana's company.