“ED has issued an order to provisionally attach properties worth Rs. 751.9 Crore in a money-laundering case investigated under the PMLA, 2002.
Investigation revealed that M/s. Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) is in possession of proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties spread across many cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow to the tune of Rs. 661.69 Crore and M/s. Young Indian (YI) is in possession of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs. 90.21 Crore in the form of investment in equity shares of AJL,” the finance ministry-run probe agency stated via a post on social network, X.
Notably, the case is based on a private complaint by BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy in a Delhi court in 2013, when the Manmohan Singh government was at the helm.
A provisional order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the newspaper’s publisher Associated Journals Ltd. and its holding company Young Indian, the statement added. Dr Swamy had alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds on part of the Gandhis in acquiring the newspaper. Sonia and Rahul were granted bail in the case by the trial court in December 2015.
** Rahul Gandhi is out on bail in the 'National Herald case'. Along with his mother Sonia Gandhi, he was granted bail in December 2015 in the case.
The National Herald case involves Young Indian's takeover of Associated Journals Limited, the company that runs National Herald newspaper, and the dealings thereafter.
In July 2022, BJP leader from northeast and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had lashed out at the Congress and Rahul Gandhi for the conduct with regard to questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in the 'National Herald' case.
"Through his drama, Rahul Gandhi has proven that he has done something wrong. Otherwise, he would have gone there silently and given a statement to the media later," Sarma had said. He said the procession was taken out and he appeared before the ED with "an army" of supporters.
"India has changed, nobody will be scared of you now," Himanta had said.
Sarma, who was earlier a Congress leader and a Minister in Assam, said- "Rahul Gandhi is an MP of this country. When ED summoned him, he should appear before them and present his side before ED officers". The law takes its own course.
"India's law is so strong that you will never be punished if you are innocent," the Assam CM had said in 2022.
Congress president Malikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday (Nov 21, 2023) that: “This pattern of misuse of agencies during elections by the BJP establishment is not new and now stands fully exposed before the entire nation.
'National Herald' was the voice of the Freedom Movement. The Indian National Congress is proud of its role in the Freedom Movement. We will continue to fight for the ideals on which our Democratic Republic is founded.”
ends
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