NEW DELHI, Nov 4: A probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into allegations that Congress president Sitaram Kesri has an account with Barclays Bank in London is hanging fire.

For, the ED is yet to approach Kesri for details: his date of birth, the date of his alleged visit to London, a photocopy of his passport to find out visa entries and other details.

Kesri has denied allegations that he has a bank account in London as totally ``false and baseless''. He told The Indian Express that these allegations were aimed at ``maligning'' him personally and also the party. He said he was willing to answer any question to satisfy the authorities.

Yet, the ED has been sitting on a missive sent in August this year by the First Secretary (Trade) in the Indian High Commission in London, S B Singh.

Responding to the ED's letter sent in March 1997, Singh wrote to M C Joshi, special director, ED, saying that the existence of a bank account could be verified only after Barclays Bank was provided the details of Kesri's passport and evidence that he was in London.

It had been alleged in a public interest litigation that a Delhi-based businessman paid Kesri 10,000 pounds in cash when he first visited the UK in June 1969 and that Kesri opened an account in Barclays Bank's London branch.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.