Congress President Sonia Gandhi leaves from her residence to appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in connection with the National Herald case, in New Delhi, Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (PTI Photo)Sonia Gandhi ED questioning Highlights: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday questioned Congress president Sonia Gandhi for over three hours on the third day of her deposition in the National Herald newspaper linked money laundering case. No fresh summons were issued, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Wednesday detained Congress leaders, including MP Manish Tewari, as they protested against the ED’s questioning of Sonia Gandhi.
Speaking at a press conference earlier in the day, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot stated, “They called Rahul Gandhi for five days… now they have called Sonia Gandhi for the third time. The ED has created terror in the country.” Veteran leader Anand Sharma stated that laws shouldn’t be “weaponised” to “target and humiliate”, while Ghulam Nabi Azad said the ED should bear in mind Sonia’s age and health issues.
Congress supporters during a nationwide protest called by Congress against summoning of party interim President Sonia Gandhi by ED in National Herald case, in Ahmedabad, Thursday, July 21, 2022. (PTI Photo)
Congress leaders in Kerala on Wednesday marched to the Governor's residence, Raj Bhavan, here to protest against the continued questioning of party chief Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Department (ED) in the National Herald newspaper-linked money laundering case.
Senior Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan and former minister Ramesh Chennithala, who participated in the protest were subsequently arrested and removed from the area, police said.
An officer of Museum police station said all of the arrested Congress leaders were later released on station bail. (PTI)
Congress Leaders Veerappa Moily, Ramalinga Reddy, NA Haris and others during a silent protest in support of AICC President Sonia Gandhi, who appeared before the ED (Enforcement Directorate) in connection with the National Herald case, in Bengaluru.
All congress MPs and leaders have been released from Kingsway Camp in Delhi after their detention
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday questioned Congress president Sonia Gandhi for over three hours on the third day of her deposition in the National Herald newspaper linked money laundering case. No fresh summons were issued, officials said.
Sonia Gandhi reached the federal agency's office in central Delhi at 11 am accompanied by her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and son Rahul Gandhi.
The session began around 11.15 am. The team of investigators included the main probe officer and a person who took down statements dictated by the Congress chief.
Sonia Gandhi left the ED office around 2 pm. (PTI)
Congress leaders were detained by the police amid protests over ED's questioning of Sonia Gandhi and price rise.
Congress workers protesting against ED's questioning of Sonia Gandhi were detained by the police on Wednesday outside the AICC headquarters. The workers were also heard raising slogans against the PM Modi-led government.
Congress workers on Wednesday chanted "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" while protesting outside the Enforcement Directorate's office in Nagpur against the questioning of party chief Sonia Gandhi by the probe agency.
A number of Congress leaders and workers gathered outside the ED's office in Seminary Hills area here in Maharashtra to express solidarity with Gandhi, who recorded her statement for the third time before the agency in Delhi in a money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.
The Congress workers sat in front of the ED's office here and chanted "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" - words from a devotional song which had been popularised by Mahatma Gandhi.
They also raised slogans against the BJP-led central government. (PTI)
Speaking to news agency ANI, Congress MP Manish Tewari said, "We want to raise the voice of the common people in Parliament. We were moving towards Rashtrapati Bhavan but were stopped by Police. We have been detained."
Delhi Police detained workers of the Congress party outside the AICC headquarters in Delhi as they protested against the ED's questioning of Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday.
Congress leaders on Wednesday took out a march on Vijay Chowk in Delhi, protesting against the ED's questioning of party chief Sonia Gandhi.
BJP chief JP Nadda on Wednesday hit out at the Gandhi family, stating that they are not above law and are required to answer to agencies. "This isn't a satyagraha but an attempt to hide the truth. Congress is protesting to protect a family, not the country. This family thinks they are above the law and the country. They can't accept that someone can question them" he added.
At a press conference Wednesday, Congress leader Anand Sharma stated that he has noticed a "disturbing trend", where laws are being made "more and more draconian, which threaten the foundational values of the Indian Constitution." "The weaponisation of laws and their use to target and humiliate should not exist," he added.
Stressing upon the old age and health issues of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, veteran party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad stated that the ED has all necessary papers and documents that they have been investigating over the years. "They have also questioned Rahul Gandhi... then why call Sonia Gandhi?" Azad asked. She is old and has been unwell since contracting Covid, he added.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi arrived at the ED office for the third round of questioning on Wednesday. She was accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, "The ED is creating drama in the country. They called Rahul Gandhi for five days... now they have called Sonia Gandhi for the third time. The ED has created terror. Supreme Court should decide quickly on the matter (of Money Laundering Act)."
"The ED is being used to collapse governments... as you saw in Maharashtra. You can see where democracy is going," Gehlot added.
Congress Sevadal workers on Wednesday morning protested at the AICC headquarters in Delhi against the ED's questioning of the party's interim president Sonia Gandhi.
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after being detained amid protests against the Enforcement Directorate’s questioning of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged the “king” of the country has ordered to put those asking questions on unemployment, inflation, GST and Agnipath in jail.
“The country’s ‘King’ has ordered — whosoever asks questions on unemployment, inflation, wrong GST, Agnipath — put them in jail. Even though I am in custody now, even though it may be considered a crime to raise the voice of the people in the country now, they will never be able to break our spirits,” Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.
The Congress leader earlier took potshots at the ruling dispensation for “dictatorship”. He alleged that they were not being allowed to hold discussions inside Parliament and the leaders were arrested during protests. Read more
The ED's questioning of Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case lasted around six hours on Tuesday.
She has been asked to appear before the probe agency for the third time on Wednesday.
With the Enforcement Directorate having summoned Sonia Gandhi for questioning again, the Congress will field veterans Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma on Wednesday to defend the party chief and attack the BJP government.
Both of them were conspicuously missing when the party waged street protests last month during Rahul Gandhi’s questioning. Read more
Speaking to The Indian Express on the National Herald case in connection with which Sonia Gandhi is being questioned by the ED , senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The Congress only gave financial assistance to a newspaper which had played a role in the freedom movement. She just wanted to keep that great institution alive. ‘Young Indian’ is a not-for-profit company that only runs the ‘National Herald’ paper. No one can draw a single rupee of profit, salary or dividend from it, or benefit from it in any manner."
"They (government) know all that but they just want to harass and create an atmosphere of fear and demoralise (Congress) workers," he said. Read the full interview here
Speaking to The Indian Express on ED's questioning of Sonia Gandhi, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, "It is sheer harassment. They questioned Rahul Gandhi for five days. She (Sonia) was also questioned earlier. Now they have called her again tomorrow. She is a senior leader; 75 years old. They are not giving the respect that an elderly person like her deserves. Instead of sending a team to her residence to record her statement, they are calling her again and again as if it is a big murder case." Read more
As Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged National Herald money laundering case, clashes broke out between Delhi Police and party leaders in New Delhi and other parts of Delhi. Several Congress leaders, including Indian Youth Congress President Srinivas BV, were allegedly manhandled by police on Akbar Road and Vijay Chowk.
A video of the incident shows a group of policemen pushing and shoving Srinivas in a police car while pulling his hair. Srinivas tries to resist the attack but is pushed into the car and detained.
The Delhi Police said the protesters were “warned” about the illegal gathering but the Congress leaders continued protesting. An enquiry has been initiated by police against the personnel who allegedly assaulted Srinivas and other leaders. Police said 259 persons, including 57 MPs, were detained. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was also detained and released at 7 pm. The protesters were planning to march from the Parliament House to the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Read More
Delhi Police on Tuesday detained over 250 Congress functionaries and workers, including 57 MPs, for protesting against the questioning of party president Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), officials said.
A private motorcycle was also set on fire in central Delhi near Claridges Hotel on Rajesh Pilot Marg.
According to an official statement, police had prior information about the protest by Congress workers and supporters on Akbar Road in solidarity with their leader. (PTI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached his residence from Kingsway Police camp after being released by the Delhi police following his detention. Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police, earlier today for protesting against the ED's summoning of Sonia Gandhi.
After questioning for over six hours today, the Enforcement Directorate has been asked Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to appear again on Wednesday. She left the agency’s office in central Delhi just before 7 pm on Tuesday after recording her statement.
Cong President Sonia Gandhi has left the ED office after over 6 hours of questioning in National Herald money-laundering case.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said the "dictatorship" of BJP is now out in the open as neither important issues can be discussed in the Parliament nor people's voice can be raised on the streets.
Her attack came on a day Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was questioned for the second time by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case related to the National Herald case, leading to a massive protest by the party against the alleged misuse of central agencies. (PTI)
KPCC president K Sudhakaran said the central govt doesn't want to take into consideration the contribution of the Gandhi family to the development of India. 'They have been targeted only to defame them, this is not democracy.' He said.
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after being detained amid protests against the Enforcement Directorate’s questioning of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged the “king” of the country has ordered to put those asking questions on unemployment, inflation, GST and Agnipath in jail.
“The country’s ‘King’ has ordered — whosoever asks questions on unemployment, inflation, wrong GST, Agnipath — put them in jail. Even though I am in custody now, even though it may be considered a crime to raise the voice of the people in the country now, they will never be able to break our spirits,” Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. Read More
Angry activists of the Youth Congress torched a car in Maharashtra's Nagpur on Tuesday during their agitation against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons to party president Sonia Gandhi in a money laundering case.
While Congress leaders and workers staged a 'satyagraha', a sit-in protest, at Sanvidhan Square, Youth Congress workers led by Maharashtra Youth Congress president Kunal Raut raised slogans against the Central government and torched a car at GPO square.
The detained Congress leaders have converted their detention at the Kingsway Camp in Delhi into a brainstorming session of the Congress Parliamentary Party on issues of price rise, Agnipath, GST on food items, national security, the falling rupee, and other issues.
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi arrived at the ED office after her lunch break. Her second round of questioning in connection with the National Herald case had begun earlier today.
In a video, Delhi Police personnel were seen pulling the hair of the National President of Indian Youth Congress, Srinivas BV, and manhandling him during the party's protest.
Haryana Congress leaders and workers staged a "satyagraha" against the BJP and ED at the Haryana Congress bhawan in Sector 9 of Chandigarh on Tuesday.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was seen leaving the ED office. She will return at around 3.30p pm after a lunch break, ANI reported.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with other party leaders has been detained at Kingsway Camp, the party said.
Right before he was detained, Rahul Gandhi told the media, “India is a police state, Modi is a king”. The protesters stated that the money laundering case is “false” and no FIR has been lodged yet. Meanwhile, Congress members alleged that the detentions are an “absolute misuse of power” by the BJP and the Delhi Police. Read more
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been taken to Kingsway Camp, where other detained Congress leaders are present, ANI reported.
Earlier, Rahul was taken to the Parliament Street police station.
Congress workers across the country are protesting against the ED's summons to Sonia Gandhi. Party MP D K Suresh was detained by the police in Karnataka.
Sharing images from the protest at Delhi's Vijay Chowk, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the central government for "dictatorship".
Tweeting in Hindi, Rahul said, "Look at the dictatorship... cannot hold peaceful demonstrations, cannot discuss inflation and unemployment. By misusing the police and agencies, even by arresting us, you will never be able to silence us. Only 'Truth' will end this dictatorship."
Speaking at the protests against the ED summons to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul stated, "All (Congress) MPs came here. They talked about inflation and unemployment. They (Police) are not allowing us to sit here. Discussions are not allowed inside (Parliament) and here they are arresting us."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was detained by the Delhi Police amid protests against the ED’s summoning of Sonia Gandhi in an alleged money laundering case. Other party leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Ranjeet Ranjan, KC Venugopal, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi, and K Suresh, were also detained ANI reported.
Rahul Gandhi led a protest of Congress MPs and leaders in Delhi against the ED's questioning of party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Senior leaders of the Congress party were detained Tuesday as Rahul Gandhi led protests against the ED’s summoning of Sonia Gandhi in an alleged money laundering case. The leaders included Ranjeet Ranjan, KC Venugopal, Manickam Tagore, Imran Pratapgarhi, and K Suresh, ANI reported
The Congress on Tuesday said it will stage a 'satyagraha' all over the country to protest the Enforcement Directorate's summons to party President Sonia Gandhi in the money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.
Congress MPs met at the office of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament premises and are likely to stage a march towards the ED office to protest the questioning.
"It is very unfortunate that the Government of India has refused to give permission to us to stage a satyagraha. It is the same BJP which organised a protest on June 5, 2015 in support of Baba Ramdev in 2005," Maken said.
"If the principal opposition party in the country is not allowed to stage a satyagraha, then it amounts of murder of democracy. Where will democracy survive," Maken told reporters.
Democracy comprises both the ruling party and the opposition and how will democracy survive if one of its wheels is "disallowed" to stage a protest at Rajghat, he asked. (PTI)
The ED case is based on a trial court order that allowed the Income Tax Department to probe the affairs of National Herald newspaper and conduct a tax assessment of Sonia and Rahul. The order was the result of a petition filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.
Swamy’s complaint had alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds on the part of the Gandhis in acquiring the newspaper. Swami had alleged that the Gandhis acquired properties owned by National Herald by buying the newspaper’s erstwhile publishers, The Associated Journals Limited (AJL), through an organisation called Young Indian (YI) in which they have 86 per cent stake.
Sonia and Rahul were granted bail in the case by the trial court on December 19, 2015. Read our Explainer here
Members of the Chandigarh and Haryana Youth Congress are protesting against the BJP and ED at the cricket stadium in Chandigarh's Sector 16.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi arrived at the ED office on Tuesday for a second round of questioning in the National Herald case.
Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Tuesday stated that the central government was trying to harass Opposition leaders. "We'll fight it. We're with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. You can't harass us anymore," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
At the party headquarters, members of the All India Mahila Congress protested against the ED’s summons. The party had earlier planned to protest at Rajghat but was unable to get permission from the authorities.
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi reached the ED office in New Delhi on Tuesday for a second round of questioning in the National Herald money laundering case.
She reached the federal agency's office in Vidyut Lane flanking the APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi around 11 am accompanied by her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
While Priyanka Gandhi stayed back at the ED office, Rahul Gandhi left soon after. -- with PTI inputs
After being denied permission to protest at Rajghat, the Congress party has planned on staging demonstrations at the Parliament premises and the party office in New Delhi.
The party hopes to get support from other Opposition parties.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Congress leader Ajay Maken stated that the party had asked permission for staging a 'satyagraha' at Rajghat but it was denied by the authorities.
"It is shameful and unfortunate that the government has denied an Opposition party from staging a protest at Rajghat," Maken said.
Congress had earlier planned to stage a "satyagraha" at Rajghat over ED's summoning of Sonia Gandhi. However, the party was denied permission by the authorities.
The ED had questioned Sonia Gandhi for two hours on July 21 and ended the session for the day on her request as she is recovering from Covid, officials said.
She's expected to reappear before ED today.
The agency’s case is based on a trial court order that allowed the Income Tax Department to probe the affairs of National Herald newspaper and conduct a tax assessment of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. The order was the result of a 2013 petition filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, who alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds on the part of the Gandhis in acquiring the newspaper.