The Enforcement Directorate (ED), today, summoned Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to question them regarding the National Herald newspaper money laundering case. It is believed that Sonia is to appear before the ED on June 2 and Rahul on June 8.
The Congress has said that the whole case is a conspiracy by the ruling party and that they will not back down and fight for what is right. According to sources, Sonia is likely to obey the summons and meet the probe agency on the mentioned date. However, Rahul is currently abroad and so the party might request an adjournment.
The sources further said that the ED wanted to record their statements under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, Congress leaders have asserted that this laundering case is baseless as no money was involved. The party has stated that there was no money exchange, and only conversion of debt into equity to pay off dues like salaries and other expenses.
Interestingly, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had to appear before the High Court in same case earlier as well. Perhaps this is how history changes the curve. Almost two decades ago, when the present Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had to appear before the Central Government’s investigating agencies again and again for Godhra scandal.
In April, the ED also interrogated senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and former Union minister Pawan Bansal in connection to this case.
The National Herald is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Pvt Limited. The case was filed with allegations of cheating, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust during the acquisition of the AJL. The case alleges a misappropriation of assets of over Rs2,000 crore in an equity transaction.
