Sonia Gandhi leaves ED office after 2 hours of questioning in National Herald case

The investigation relates to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

Updated on: Jul 21, 2022, 15:43:13 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Aniruddha Dhar, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday recorded the statement of Congress president Sonia Gandhi for over two hours in the National Herald money-laundering case and ended the session for the day on her request as she is recovering from Covid-19.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi arrives to appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in connection with the National Herald case on Thursday,  (PTI)

Amid massive protests by Congress leaders and workers, Gandhi, 75, had arrived at the ED headquarters located at Vidyut Lane flanking APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi a little after noon escorted by her Z category CRPF security cover.

The questioning began around 12:30pm after completion of some formalities like verification of summons and signature in the attendance sheet, sources said.

She has been allowed to leave on her request made on medical grounds, PTI added. The probe relates to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

Earlier in the day, the Opposition issued a joint statement condemning the ED's summon to Gandhi, calling it “relentless campaign of vendetta” against political parties by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government.

The grand old party has also organised protests inside and outside the Parliament, at the AICC headquarters and across the country.

The BJP slammed the Congress, recalling that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Gujarat chief minister and was required to appear before the special investigation team in the Gujarat riots case, there were no protests. “What is the Congress afraid of if they (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi) are not guilty?” asked BJP spokesperson Tom Vadakkan.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.