The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a move to ascertain whether a case of foreign exchange violation could be made out in connection with the receipt of a parcel from the Netherlands that contained Euros 23,000 in the name of actress Aishwarya Rai.

The ED has asked the customs department in Mumbai to submit its report about the parcel sent to the former Miss World by one Avineshwar from Rotterdam in September-end, official sources said.

The ED asked its Mumbai office to approach the customs department to obtain the report pertaining to the parcel, which contained electronic goods and 23,000 Euros, so that it could ascertain if a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) could be made out.

The ED's move came after the customs department and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) gave a clean chit to Ashwariya in the matter.

Senior officials of the ED termed the move as routine, saying the directorate had to probe all cases of recovery of foreign exchange.

Aishwarya was extensively questioned by the customs department on November 20 for two-and-a-half hours, after which she was given a clean chit "as of now".

This has now raised a few political questions, in view of the strained relationship between the country's most powerful political family - that of the Gandhis - and India's biggest superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

Is this an effort to further embarrass Big B by Asihwarya under the scanner? After all, these days, she is often seen in company of junior Bachchan.

Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh said law should be equal for all. Singh said he was sure that Aishwarya was innocent. "If you are not guilty, don't be afraid," he said.

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said his party has nothing to do with the matter.

The customs registered a case against Avineshwar under the Customs Act for not declaring the goods sent in the parcel. The punishment for this offence ranges from a fine to imprisonment for three years.

The parcel arrived at the Foreign Post Office in Mumbai in September-end. Besides the currency, it contained a top- brand shirt, a pair of binoculars, a DVD player and electronic items.