Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday for questioning in connection with the alleged school recruitment scam and instead wrote to the central agency expressing his inability to do so.

The ED had summoned the Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew on Thursday for interrogation and he had made it clear the same day that he was not going to show up this time.

“I am unable to appreciate the scope and purport of the summons... At present I am not in (Calcutta) and travelling as part of a statewide yatra to connect with the people of West Bengal,” wrote Abhishek in his letter to the ED, referring to the Trinamuley Nabo Jowar, for which he is in South 24-Parganas district now.

“Further, since the panchayat elections... have been declared on 08.07.2023, I am engaged in preparing for the same,” he added.

“It is not out of place to mention that most of the information/documents sought for are already available with appropriate government authorities/departments.”