National Herald case: ED questions Rahul Gandhi for 8 hours on day 3

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday quizzed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the third consecutive day in connection with the National Herald case. ED sought answers on decisions taken with regard to the Associated Journal Limited and Young Indian.

Gandhi arrived at the ED headquarters around 11:35 am. The questioning began at noon and continued for three hours after which he left for lunch break. He rejoined the probe around 4 pm. Gandhi was questioned for over nine hours each on Monday and Tuesday. He has been summoned again for questioning on Friday.

The case relates to an equity transaction in which Sonia Gandhi and son are accused of 'misappropriating AJL assets worth over Rs 2,000 crore' by paying just Rs 50 lakh. A probe by the Income-Tax Department against the Congress leaders stemmed from a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in 2013. ED registered a fresh case under the criminal provisions of PMLA after a trial court took cognisance of the I-T department probe. Congress has termed the case as political vendetta.





Swamy alleged that the Gandhis 'cheated' and 'misappropriated funds' in the 'acquisition' of the National Herald newspaper, published by AJL and owned by Young Indian. The National Herald launched by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was published by AJL and was in 2010 taken over by Young Indian. Swami has alleged that the Gandhis 'acquired properties' owned by National Herald by buying over the newspaper's erstwhile publishers through Young Indian in which they have '86% stake'.

I-T department has alleged that Rahul Gandhi's Young Indian shares would mean he had an 'income of Rs 154 crore' and not Rs 68 lakh, as was assessed in his tax filing. It has issued a demand notice for Rs 249.15 crore to Young Indian for Assessment Year 2011-12.

ED had in April quizzed senior Congress leaders Pawan Bansal and Mallikarjun Kharge in the case. The questioning of the Gandhis and senior Congress leaders is part of ED's investigation to 'understand the shareholding pattern, financial transactions and role of AJL and Young Indian promoters.'