National Herald Money Laundering Case: Enforcement Directorate (ED) may again interrogate Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge regarding funding of Young Indian and AJL.

  • Enforcement Directorate probing money laundering in National Herald case
  • Sonia and Rahul Gandhi may be interrogated again, ED is preparing
  • Young Indian and AJL got funds from alleged shell companies: ED sources
  • ED’s interrogation of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also possible

Congress is mobilizing against the investigation of alleged money laundering in the National Herald case. On the other hand, Enforcement Directorate is again preparing to question Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi . The ED has got some clues which indicate that money continued to flow into Young Indian and Associated Journal Limited (AJL) in 2019 through ‘shell companies’. In February 2016, in the National Herald case, the Supreme Court had dismissed the petition to stay the trial against Gandhi and others. According to sources, clues point to the inflow of money from shell companies in Young Indian and AJL long after the SC verdict. The ED has unearthed the alleged falsification that lasted till 2018-19 from the documents found in the recent raids.

According to sources, the ED officials felt that the alleged suspicious transactions might have been closed after a setback from the Supreme Court. This funding is in addition to the Rs 1 crore that Young Indian (YI) received from Kolkata-based shell company Dotex Merchandise. Sonia and Rahul have 76% stake in YI. YI used Rs 50 lakh from Dotex to buy AJL from Congress.

New link in National Herald money laundering case is, Kharge is the CEO of Young Indian. The ED has raided more than half a dozen places related to the case in the last few days. The fourth floor of the Herald House in Delhi, where the Young Indian’s office is located, is also there. Where the raids took place were the promoters of shell companies who allegedly gave ‘entries’ to those who wanted to convert illegal money into legitimate investments.

Congress has consistently denied money laundering and allegations against its leadership. The ED has called Sonia and Rahul for questioning recently. Since then, the party has been continuously protesting against the ED investigation and the central government from Parliament to the street across the country.

How did the ED justify the investigation?

The Enforcement Directorate says that AJL with assets of more than Rs 800 crore was taken over by the newly formed Young Indian for just Rs 50 lakh, its investigation is done. Sonia-Rahul hold 76% stake in Young Indian and their role should also be probed. The agency claims that the investigation was challenged in the trial court, then in the Delhi High Court and also in the Supreme Court and all upheld it. Kharge was questioned by the ED on Thursday. According to sources, he was asked why the employees of YI are not on-rolls and this is contrary to his earlier statement in which he had said that the employees will be aware of the work.

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