National Herald case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now asked interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi to depose before it. Moreover, on July 21 for questioning in connection with the National Herald newspaper-linked money-laundering case.
Sonia Gandhi was earlier issued a second notice for June 23 by the ED. But the 75-year-old Congress leader could not follow up with the date. As she was “strictly advised to rest at home following her hospitalization on account of Covid-19 and a lung infection”.
The ailing interim Congress chief had tried to postpone the summons by four weeks. Hence, she has been asked to depose before the agency on July 21, the officials said. The Congress president was first issued the notice for an appearance on June 8 but after she reported positive for Covid, the summons for June 23 were issued.
The ED probe against the Gandhi family revolves around the alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper. The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Private Limited.
Rahul Gandhi also underwent a series of questionings. Which were spanning 10-12 hours over five days, by the central probe agency in the same case.
He went ahead and said, “The Government of India…the Prime Minister thinks that by making me sit in the ED (office) for five days, I will change my behaviour. This is a confusion in the mind of the Prime Minister”
Apart from the Gandhi family, the ED has also questioned senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge. And Pawan Bansal as part of the investigation.
