The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is considering questioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi once again in connection with the National Herald case, armed with new evidence. Sources indicated to CNN-News18 that while no specific date has been confirmed, this questioning could occur within the month.
Last week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hinted at potential searches by the ED in a tweet, following his parliamentary speech on the Budget. “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,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on X. ED officials confirmed that the agency is in the final stages of its investigation into the matter.
https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/1819106372396765206
In June 2022, the ED had already interrogated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for nearly 40 hours. The focus of that questioning was on the operational details of Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI) and the involvement of both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, who hold majority stakes in the company. The Congress leader Rahul Gandhis reportedly stated that Motilal Vohra, the former Congress treasurer, was responsible for managing YI’s day-to-day operations.
The ED alleges that a criminal conspiracy was orchestrated to defraud shareholders of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and Congress donors, transferring valuable properties to Young India’s beneficial owners. Last year, the ED provisionally attached assets valued at Rs 751.90 crore, including Herald House in Delhi and properties in Mumbai and Lucknow.
In recent developments, the ED questioned Pawan Bansal, former Congress treasurer, in November 2023, and previously in April 2022 along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The questioning of Bansal and recent investigations have reportedly unearthed new leads related to money laundering, shareholding patterns, financial transactions, and the roles of Young India and AJL promoters. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s forthcoming questioning may seek to clarify these new findings.
