On Monday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) began interviewing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the suspected money laundering case involving the National Herald.
The federal agency’s investigators questioned the 51-year-old CEO for more than three hours in the first session, which began at 11 a.m. at its headquarters. The first round of questioning ended about 2.15 p.m. to allow for a lunch break. The Congress leader went to his home before visiting Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital, where his mother, party interim president Sonia Gandhi, is being treated for COVID-related illnesses.
At roughly 3.45 p.m., Rahul Gandhi returned to the investigation for the second round of questioning.
Rahul Gandhi is being questioned by an Assistant Director level official, who is the case’s investigative officer and is overseen by a Deputy Director and a Joint Director.
According to reports, another officer is typing Gandhi’s testimony, which is being recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The Enforcement Directorate is probing a Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala over suspected financial irregularities in the party-backed Young Indian Pvt Limited (YIL), which runs the National Herald newspaper.
The ED will most likely investigate the ownership pattern, the transfer of AJL assets to YIL, and other connected problems.
At roughly 3.45 p.m., Rahul Gandhi returned to the investigation for the second round of questioning.
Rahul Gandhi is being questioned by an Assistant Director level official, who is the case’s investigative officer and is overseen by a Deputy Director and a Joint Director.
According to reports, another officer is typing Gandhi’s testimony, which is being recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The Enforcement Directorate is probing a Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala over suspected financial irregularities in the party-backed Young Indian Pvt Limited (YIL), which runs the National Herald newspaper.
The ED will most likely investigate the ownership pattern, the transfer of AJL assets to YIL, and other connected problems.
The ED is also looking into financial transactions and the involvement of party functionaries in the operation of the AJL and YIL.
The Associated Journals Limited (AJL) owns and publishes the National Herald.
In addition, Rahul Gandhi’s mother, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, will be questioned by the ED. It just summoned her to appear before it on June 23 in the case.
A trial court took cognizance of an Income Tax Department inquiry conducted on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.
Swamy had petitioned the court, arguing that the assets of AJL were unlawfully obtained and transferred to YIL, in which Sonia Gandhi and her son each controlled 38% of the stock.
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are among the YIL organisers. Swamy said that the Gandhis misused finances, with YIL paying merely Rs 50 lakh to secure the right to reclaim Rs 90.25 crore owing to Congress through AJL.
According to Section 25 of the Companies Act of 1956, YIL is a not-for-profit corporation that cannot accrue profits or pay dividends to its shareholders.
Senior Supreme Court counsel and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi called it a case of political vendetta, saying, “This is actually a very strange case — an alleged money laundering case on which summons are issued with no money involved.”
The federal agency’s action came after it questioned senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress treasurer Pawan Bansal in April this year as part of its money laundering investigation into the National Herald case.
The CIA then recorded both of the Congress leaders’ comments. YIL’s CEO is Kharge, while AJL’s Managing Director is Bansal.
Meanwhile, police have sealed all routes leading to the ED headquarters in central Delhi, with Rapid Action Force members heavily deployed.
The Delhi Police has enforced Section 144 CrPC rules prohibiting public assembly and access on roads leading to the ED headquarters in Pravaratan Bhawan on A P J Abdul Kalam Road.
In the aftermath of the projected march by the Congress party from its headquarters to the ED office where Rahul Gandhi is being questioned, the Delhi Traffic Police issued an advise to residents of the national capital advising them to avoid specific routes.
