On Tuesday, Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Congress, said she was unable to explain the transactions involving Young Indian’s acquisition of the assets of Associated Journals Limited, the company that publishes the National Herald and other publications, and in which she and Rahul Gandhi jointly own a majority stake.
According to ED sources, Sonia Gandhi claimed the party’s former treasurer Motilal Vora was aware of the specifics of the transactions between Congress, AJL, and Young Indian during her six hours of questioning by the investigation agency in connection with the money laundering case.
Earlier, according to sources in the investigation agency, Congressman Rahul Gandhi, who was also questioned by the ED in the National Herald case, blamed Motilal Vora for the entire transaction of taking over Associated Journals Ltd (AJL).
When questioned by ED officials about the matter, other Congress executives, like as Mallikarjun Kharge and Treasurer Pawan Kumar Bansal, had adopted a similar stance.
Congressman Motilal Vora, who was also the subject of an ED investigation into the National Herald case, passed away in December 2020.
The Congresswoman arrived to the ED office about 11 a.m. with her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Z+ armed security cover. Rahul Gandhi departed shortly after, while Priyanka Gandhi remained at the ED office.
Sonia Gandhi’s response was requested to a set of roughly 30 questions about her role with the National Herald newspaper and Young Indian Pvt Ltd, the company under investigation in the case, during the second round of questioning when her statement was recorded, according to officials.
She was interrogated at the ED office in central Delhi starting at 11 AM and continuing after a 90-minute lunch break until it was over at around 7 PM. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were with the Congress leader as she arrived at the ED office in the morning, accompanied by her Z+ armed security protection. She recorded her statement on Tuesday and then left the agency’s office in the heart of Delhi shortly before 7 o’clock.
According to representatives of the Enforcement Directorate, Sonia Gandhi has been ordered to reappear on Wednesday.
