The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned the Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after the Panama papers leak in the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) case. She is asked to appear before the ED's Delhi office on December 20 (today) for questioning. The summon was sent to her Mumbai residence.

Aishwarya Rai had already been summoned for questioning but she had sought more time on two occasions earlier. The actress was previously summoned by the ED on November 9 under Section 37 of FEMA but she did not join the probe. She was asked to respond within 15 days, following which she replied via email. Some sources say that Aishwarya won’t join the probe today also if her adjournment plea is accepted.

"We summoned her for December 20. As of now, we haven't got any reply from her side. The summon was sent to her Mumbai residence," said an ED official. If the Ponniyin Selvan actress doesn't join the probe, the ED will think of further legal action. They might seek legal opinion from the experts to decide the future course of action, added the official.

"The Panama Papers" case is a sprawling investigation spanning millions of documents stolen and leaked to the media in 2016, which involve allegations that the world's rich and powerful set up offshore accounts or shell companies to avoid taxes. Over 300 Indians were said to be part of the Panama Papers.

Leaked financial records of politicians, industrialists and celebrities were reviewed and published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Earlier this year, the world-famous Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar was found to be listed in the even bigger leak "The Pandora Papers" that expose unethical/ corrupt dealings of the elites.