ED May Question Rahul Gandhi This Month In Connection With National Herald Case

Armed with fresh evidence, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could question Congress leader Rahul Gandhi again in the National Herald case. Sources told CNN-News18 that a decision is yet to be taken on the exact date of questioning, but it could happen this month.

Gandhi had tweeted last week that the ED was planning to carry out searches on his premises. “Apparently, 2 in 1 didn’t like my Chakravyuh speech. ED ‘insiders’ tell me a raid is being planned. Waiting with open arms, @dir_ed. Chai and biscuits on me,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X after his speech in parliament on Budget.

ED officials said the agency is in the final stages of its investigation in the case.

The ED, in June 2022, had questioned Rahul Gandhi for close to 40 hours. The agency wanted both Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi to answer questions about the day-to-day working of Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI) and their role in it. Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are majority stakeholders in Young India. Sources said that the Gandhis had said that it was the late Motilal Vohra, the former treasurer of the Congress, who was responsible for the day-to-day affairs of Young Indian.

The ED has alleged that a criminal conspiracy was hatched to cheat the shareholders of AJL- Associated Journals and donors from the Congress to give control of properties worth “hundreds of crores of rupees” of AJL to “beneficial owners” of Young India — the Gandhis.

Last year, the central agency provisionally attached properties worth Rs 751.90 crore, including Herald House in Delhi and properties in Mumbai and Lucknow.

The ED questioned Pawan Bansal, former treasurer of the Congress, in November 2023 for the second time in connection with the case. He, along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, were also questioned by the ED in April 2022. Kharge, in his capacity as the CEO of the Young Indian, while Bansal as the managing director of AJL.

Sources indicated that the questioning of Bansal and subsequent probe has thrown up fresh leads about the alleged money laundering, shareholding pattern, financial transactions and role of the promoters of Young Indian and AJL.

Gandhi’s fresh questioning could be to seek clarification on these new leads.