This Article is From Jul 27, 2022

For Sonia Gandhi, 100 Questions, 12 Hours; No New Summons

Sonia Gandhi was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering allegations linked to the National Herald case.

Sonia Gandhi was "quick" in answering questions, Enforcement Directorate officials said.

New Delhi:

Congress president Sonia Gandhi's questioning by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering allegations linked to the National Herald case ended today. She was asked over 100 questions in 12 hours spread over three days.

Sonia Gandhi, 75, spent three hours with the probe agency on the third day of questioning today. She has not been summoned again.

On Tuesday, Sonia Gandhi was questioned for six hours. Enforcement Directorate officials said she was "quick" in answering questions.

Her son and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's questioning took place over five days and he was asked around 150 questions.

Mrs Gandhi was reportedly asked questions on her involvement with the National Herald newspaper and the Young Indian Pvt Ltd. The Enforcement Directorate will match her statement with that of Rahul Gandhi as both are majority stakeholders in Young Indian, officials said.

The Gandhis are being investigated in what is called the "National Herald case" involving the Young Indian's takeover of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company that runs the National Herald newspaper founded by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The Enforcement Directorate says the Young Indian also took over Rs 800 crore in assets of AJL. According to the Income Tax department, this should be considered an asset of the shareholders of Young Indian -- Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi - for which they should pay tax.

Denying any wrongdoing, the Congress asserts that the Young Indian is a "not-for-profit" company and so, there can be no question of money laundering.

On all three days of questioning, the Congress president went to the probe agency's office with daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was present with her medicines. Medical staff were also kept on standby.

On each day of the Gandhis' questioning in Delhi, the Congress has carried out massive street protests and has clashed with the police, undeterred by heavy security. Congress leaders and workers clashed with the police today too.

Rahul Gandhi was among the Congress leaders who were detained yesterday during a march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk in the heart of Delhi.

A video showed cops manhandling Youth Congress chief BV Srinivas and pulling his hair while trying to push him into a car.

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