ED summons Rahul Gandhi for 5th day on June 21
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to join investigation for the fifth day on June 21 and record his statement in the National Herald money laundering case, officials said on Monday.
Gandhi appeared for the fourth day of questioning on Monday, a day after he turned 52, and the session would continue. Officials said he has been asked to join the probe again on Tuesday and continue recording his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act).
The Congress MP has spent as many as 38 hours at the ED headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in the national capital over four sittings since his first appearance on June 13.
The ED probe pertains to 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. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has also been summoned by the agency for questioning in the case on June 23.
Sonia Gandhi has also been summoned by the agency for questioning on June 23.The Congress has accused the Centre of targeting opposition leaders by misusing investigative agencies and has termed the entire action a political vendetta. Sources said that the role of Gandhi and his statement in the case is vital as he is a “major shareholder” (38%) in YI and an “important person” in the affairs of AJL and National Herald.
The Congress has denied any wrongdoing in the case, saying YI is a non-profit company established under Section 25 of the Companies Act.
The party said AJL, which was established in 1937, faced huge debts and the Congress, from 2002 to 2011, gave Rs 90 crore to the National Herald, out of which Rs 66 crore was used to pay the salaries. The rest was given to the government as pending lease amount for the assets held by AJL, its building expenses and tax, former Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had said.