The Enforcement Directorate questioned Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for the fifth day on Tuesday in the National Herald case. Sources in the agency said that inquiries were still on for several reasons, including Rahul’s inability to answer certain questions, including how the Congress granted loans to Associate Journals Ltd (AJL). And whether there is any evidence of this, questions like.
Sources said that while the Congress is claiming that AJL, publisher of the National Herald newspaper, was given a loan of over Rs 90 crore over a period of time and to make up for it, AJL converted its debt into equity and transferred it to the Gandhi family. Owned and sold to Young Indian. So far, no Congress leader has given evidence to this question asked by the agency. The agency had earlier questioned Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal in the case.
“We are asking all Congress leaders to tell us about the check numbers through which these payments were made or the bank details that reflect these payments. However, no one is aware of anything including Rahul. No one is even saying that the cash payment was made. An ED official said, it is not explicitly mentioned in the books of AJL and is mentioned only as a general entry.
AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticized the ED for dragging Rahul’s questioning for several days. “First of all, selective verbal informal leaks should not be resorted to by an agency to spread misinformation. Second, it is absurd to suggest that the investigator will continue to inquire until the investigator finds the answer he wants to hear. Third, the matter cannot raise more than a limited five to seven questions. And even if each question is asked in five different ways, the inquiry may not last more than a day.
Notably, there are questions about loans given by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to AJL as loans to a political party are not allowed under the Representation of the People Act. This issue was also considered during the investigation by the Income Tax Department. The Income Tax Department in its report called the payment claimed by Congress as “alleged debt” as there was no evidence of any payment.
It said it had issued notice to AICC to obtain evidence relating to the “timing, mode, mode of grant of loans and the nature of funds from which these loans were granted… However, no explanation or evidence to prove that It was not submitted that the alleged loan of Rs 90.21 crore was actually given by AICC to AJL.”
ED sources said the Congress’s contention that the agency had registered a money laundering case without any declared offense is wrong. Officials said when the court had already taken cognizance of the offense and the Gandhi family was out on bail in the case, no other agency was required to register an FIR.
A senior ED official said, “The Delhi Metropolitan Magistrate’s court has already taken cognizance of offenses under sections 403, 406, 420, 120B of the Indian Penal Code and issued summons to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others, who are currently out on bail. The Gandhi family’s appeal against the magistrate’s decision before the Delhi High Court has been dismissed and the Supreme Court has also dismissed their appeal. The offenses under section 420 and 120B are scheduled offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Thus, all the conditions required for registering a case of money laundering have been fulfilled.”
ED officials also rejected the Congress’s defense that Young Indian is a non-profit organization and hence there is no question of money making and money laundering. An official said, “Young Indian is not doing any charitable activity since 2010 and is engaged in commercial business. It has taken over AJL properties worth over Rs 800 crore and is earning rent on them. Thus, the claim that even if the properties are taken fraudulently, the profits will go to charitable purpose, is an absurd argument.