National Herald Case ED to question Sonia Gandhi on July 21 Congress to hold nationwide protest

Pankaj Prasad
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi

The Congress President was issued a notice to appear on June 8.

National Herald Case|ED|Sonia Gandhi| The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will question Congress President Sonia Gandhi on July 21 in a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper. On this occasion, expressing solidarity with Sonia, her party will perform across the country. According to sources, the Congress has called a meeting of senior leaders on Thursday morning in view of the appearance of Sonia Gandhi, in which the further strategy will be decided.

Many big leaders including Ashok Gehlot in Delhi

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and many other senior leaders and MPs of the party are present in Delhi. Sources say that many office-bearers and workers of Indian Youth Congress and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) are also reaching Delhi. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "The Congress party will protest across the country tomorrow, expressing collective solidarity with its leader Sonia Gandhi, against the manner in which the political vendetta against our top leadership by the Modi-Shah duo continues. '

Security beefed up at Congress headquarters and ED office

In view of the questioning of Sonia Gandhi, the Delhi Police has beefed up security near the Congress headquarters and the ED office. A blockade was put up at 24 Akbar Road. Sonia Gandhi (75) was earlier issued a second summon by the ED for June 23, but she could not appear on that date as doctors after being admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19 and lung infection He was advised to take rest at home.

Notice of appearance was issued on June 8

The Congress President was earlier issued a notice to appear on June 8, but was summoned for June 23 after he was found infected with the coronavirus. The ED had questioned Sonia Gandhi's son and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi in this case for more than 50 hours in several sessions spanning five days. The probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in Congress-promoted Young Indian Pvt Ltd, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

Income Tax Department took cognizance of Subramanian Swamy's complaint

The questioning of Sonia, Rahul was initiated late last year after the ED registered a fresh case under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Earlier, a trial court had taken cognizance of the Income Tax Department's investigation against Young Indian on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy in 2013.