National Herald case: ED summons Sonia, Rahul Gandhi for ‘cash laundering’

By PTI

NEW DELHI:  The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday summoned Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her MP son Rahul Gandhi for questioning in a cash laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper, officers stated.

While Sonia Gandhi, 75, has been requested to depose earlier than the federal company on June 8, Rahul Gandhi is known to have been requested to look earlier.

Congress chief Abhishek Manu Singhvi stated at a press convention that the senior Gandhi will adjust to the summons.

“Rahul Gandhi will go if he is here or he may seek a fresh date,” Singhvi added.

The case to probe alleged monetary irregularities within the party-promoted Young Indian that owns the National Herald newspaper was registered lately.

The company, officers stated, desires to report the statements of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi underneath felony sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The National Herald is printed by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Pvt Limited.

The company lately questioned senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal as a part of the investigation.

The questioning of the senior Congress leaders and the Gandhis is a part of ED’s investigation to grasp the share holding sample, monetary transactions and function of the promoters of Young Indian and AJL, officers stated.

The company registered a contemporary case underneath the felony provisions of the PMLA after a trial court docket right here took cognisance of an Income Tax Department probe towards Young Indian Pvt Ltd on the premise of a non-public felony grievance filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

The first household of the Congress get together, together with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, are among the many promoters and shareholders of Young Indian.

After the ED examined Kharge final month, the Congress’ whip within the Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore accused the federal government of “harassing” him.

Tagore stated the federal government desires to insult Dalit leaders and added that Kharge wouldn’t give up to such ways.

BJP MP Swamy had accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds with Young Indian Pvt Ltd paying solely Rs 50 lakh to acquire the proper to get better Rs 90.25 crore that Associate Journals Ltd owed to the Congress.

The Delhi High Court in February final 12 months issued a discover to the Gandhis for his or her response on Swamy’s plea looking for to steer proof within the matter earlier than the trial court docket.

They, nonetheless, contended within the Delhi High Court that the plea by Swamy was “misconceived and premature”.

The different accused on this case filed by Swamy are Suman Dubey and technocrat Sam Pitroda.

They have earlier stated that they did nothing fallacious.