New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the second consecutive day in the National Herald money laundering case. Gandhi, 51, arrived at the ED headquarters at APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi accompanied by his ‘Z+’ category CRPF security escort. Here are 10 major developments:
Police personnel were deployed in large numbers and as on Monday (June 13), Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was imposed around the agency’s office.
Various Congress workers, including Randeep Surjewala, detained by the Delhi Police as they protested the ED’s probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.
Senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, Deepender Singh Hooda, Ranjeet Ranjan, Imran Pratapgarhi and others were taken into police custody and taken to an unknown place.
Delhi | Congress leader Randeep Surjewala and others detained for opposing ED probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case pic.twitter.com/S8nBWXEQqh
— ANI (@ANI) 14 June 2022
– Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, who was also detained by the Delhi Police, slammed the ED and asked, “Our protest will continue… what about the ED cases against BJP leaders Himanta Biswa Sarma and Narayan Rane Happened? … I’ve been detained.”
Rajasthan CM and Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot said, ‘No one can imagine the pressure of the government on Delhi Police… we can deal with section 144, but you can’t stop us from coming to AICC office . The country is very serious.”
Delhi Police has detained various Congress workers protesting the ED’s probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. pic.twitter.com/CX1S9i1rdh— ANI (@ANI) 14 June 2022
Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The Congress MP from Wayanad on Monday spent over 10 hours at the federal agency’s office, where he was questioned over several sessions and his statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Officials said that Gandhi’s interrogation could not be completed on Monday, so he was summoned again on Tuesday.
, While agency sources said that Gandhi recorded his statement and scrutinized his transcript, Congress leaders said the investigators took several breaks during the interrogation.
What is the National Herald Case?
The probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in Congress-promoted Young Indian Pvt Ltd, which owns the National Herald newspaper. The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and is owned by Young Indian Private Limited. Gandhi’s mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is currently admitted in a hospital here due to issues related to Kovid, has also been called by the agency for questioning in the matter on June 23. The Congress has accused the Center of misusing opposition leaders. investigative agencies.