New Delhi. The troubles of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, surrounded by allegations of grabbing assets worth Rs 800 crore of National Herald’s company Associated Journals Limited AJL for just Rs 50 lakh, seem to be increasing. Both are getting more and more involved in this matter. Sonia has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July for questioning in this case. Before that, quoting sources, Hindi newspaper ‘Navbharat Times’ has reported that the ED has got more fresh evidence of money laundering in this case. In such a situation, now Sonia may have to face difficult questions from the investigating agencies.
Quoting sources, the newspaper claims that Sunil Bhandari and Sunil Sanganeria, directors of Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, the company that paid the money to YIL, which took over AJL, were also directors in 50 more Kolkata-based companies. Income tax investigation revealed that these companies were laundering black money. At the same time, under the rules, a person can be a whole-time director of only one company. Sources have also told the newspaper that Dotex Company funded YIL for the takeover of AJL. Thereafter Rs 50 lakh was given to AJL. Now this whole issue can become an important point of investigation.
ED can now ask Sonia that how did the Congress give a loan of Rs 90 crore to AJL earlier? Congress says that money was given by cash and check, but during ED’s interrogation, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress’s Treasurer Pawan Bansal could not explain the way the money was given to the investigators. Now the ED can ask Sonia that from which account did Congress give loan to AJL of Rs 90 crore? For this, bank statements and other documents will also have to be presented. Let us inform that ED sources had earlier told that during the 5-day interrogation, Rahul Gandhi could not answer all the questions.