NEW DELHI, June 15: For the third consecutive day, the former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was closely questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday in the National Herald money laundering case, with the agency seeking answers on decisions taken with regard to the media organisation and its owner Young Indian.
Gandhi (51) arrived at the ED headquarters on A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi around 11.35 a.m. with his “Z+” category CRPF security escort. He was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as his convoy whizzed past police barricades thronged by media persons and party supporters.
The questioning began at 12 noon. A huge contingent of police and paramilitary personnel has been deployed around the federal agency’s office, and prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is in force.
Priyanka Gandhi left soon after dropping her brother off at the ‘Pravartan Bhawan’ office of the ED while a number of protesting Congress leaders and supporters were rounded up by the police and bundled into DTC and Delhi Police buses at multiple locations between the ED office and the 24 Akbar Road headquarters of the party.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel told reporters outside the Congress headquarters that the government was “murdering democracy” as party workers and office bearers were not being allowed to enter the AICC premises by the police. Rahul Gandhi has clocked over 21 hours in multiple question and answer sessions over the last two days at the ED office. He left at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night after being questioned for over 11 hours on day two. Officials said questioning could not be completed on Tuesday due to which he was summoned again on Wednesday.
Some 15-16 questions about the incorporation of the Young Indian company, the operations of the National Herald newspaper, the loan given by the Congress to the Associated Journals Limited. (AJL) and the funds transfer within the news media establishment have been put to Gandhi during the questioning held till now, sources indicated. The probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.
Gandhi’s mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is currently admitted to a hospital in New Delhi due to Covid-related issues, has also been summoned by the agency for questioning in the case on June 23.
(Manas Dasgupta)