ED questions Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case for second straight day, Congress protests

Congress leaders and workers are on the streets pan-India to protest against the summons though Rahul, flanked by politician sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior colleagues, appeared at the ED office which is probing the National Herald case.

Rahul left the ED office after the first day of questioning at 9:40 pm Monday.

What is the case?

As per the complaint filed in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate, Associated Journals Limited (AJL) took an interest-free loan of Rs 90.25 crore from the Congress, which was not paid back.

A closely held company, Young India, was incorporated in Nov 2010 with a capital of Rs 50 lakh, and acquired almost all the shareholding of AJL and its properties.

BJP slams Congress protest

Union Minister Smriti Irani Monday accused the Congress of trying to pressurise the Enforcement Directorate by holding protests and said it was an attempt to save the assets of Gandhi family.

"Congress leaders have taken to the street to pressurize an investigating agency openly because their corruption has been exposed," Irani, who had defeated Rahul in Amethi in 2019, said.

In a direct attack on Rahul, Irani said, "The Wayanad MP must explain to the nation 'What is the link of Rahul Gandhi with Dotex Company?'."

"Why is the Gandhi family interested in a former newspaper publishing company which is now running a real estate business...This shows that not just his brother-in-law Robert Vadra but the entire Gandhi family is fascinated by real estate," she said.

"In the 1930s, Associate Journals Limited was formed with 5,000 freedom fighters as shareholders. Today, a company that was to be run by freedom fighters has been usurped by the Gandhi family," the minister said.