The directorate is in the process of approaching the Central Bureau of Investigation, Delhi Police and other agencies to procure relevant documents and materials relating to the cases against Sharma to ascertain whether there was any violation of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), they said.

Though certain aspects of the case are already being examined on the basis of newspaper reports, a thorough probe is being undertaken following the Patna high court's directive on Friday, they said.

The ED has already taken into possession some materials in connection with the case against the controversial businessman and self-styled politician but the documents being obtained from the CBI and other agencies are likely to give a clear picture on FERA aspect, they said.

The Patna HC has directed the CBI toprovide the relevant materials to the ED as well as income tax department for separate investigation into the case.

Two of the Sharma cases have been handed over to the CBI, which is heading the inter-departmental group (IDG) for monitoring the whole gambit of investigation into all the cases against Sharma.