What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: Following searches at the office of the National Herald by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Congress on Tuesday condemned the agency’s action describing it as “vendetta politics” against those who speak up against the central government.
The Congress reaction came after the ED carried out searches at the premises of the National Herald in Central Delhi’s Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg near ITO since 6.30 am in the morning.
Following the ED searches, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter and said, “The raids on Herald House, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg are a part of the continued attack against India’s principal opposition – Indian National Congress. We strongly condemn this vendetta politics against those who speak up against the Modi Govt. You cannot silence us!”
The reaction came following the ED’s action against the National Herald newspaper.
On July 21, 26 and 27 the ED questioned Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi in connection with the alleged money laundering case for over 15 hours.
The ED also questioned former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in June for over 54 hours for five days.
According to ED sources, an ED team consisting of six officers came to the Herald House around 6.30 am. They collected the data from the Herald House in connection with the case.
The ED registered a fresh case about 10 months ago after a trial court in Delhi took cognisance of an Income Tax Department probe. The probe was carried out based on a private criminal complaint filed by former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.
Swamy claimed that Young Indian Limited (YIL) “took over” the assets of the defunct print media outlet in a “malicious” manner to gain profit and assets worth over ₹2,000 crores. The BJP leader also alleged that YIL had paid ₹50 lakhs to obtain the rights to recover ₹90.25 crores which AJL owed the Congress party.
In 2014, the ED initiated a probe to see if there was any money laundering in the case. On September 18, 2015, the case was reopened by the ED.
It is pertinent to note that in 2020, the ED had attached one of the most prime properties in Mumbai’s Bandra under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The said property, with market value to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees, was illegally allotted to AJL.
Seven accused in the case – veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora, AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, YI and the Gandhis – have all denied accusations against them.
Earlier this year in April, the ED also questioned senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal.
The Congress last month lambasted the BJP-led central government over the summons issued to party chief Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald money laundering case by the ED saying it will not be “intimidated” by such cheap and vendetta politics.
