National Herald case: Documented evidence exhibiting money laundering, says ED to Court

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday concluded its arguments in an alleged money laundering case in which senior Congress leaders Sonia, Rahul Gandhi and other co-accused stand chargesheeted by the agency for their alleged involvement in Congress-linked National Herald newspaper case.

The counsel for the agency told a special court here that it is a "classic" case of money laundering. He added that it is an open and shut case with documented evidence exhibiting money laundering. The agency further argued that Young Indian (YI) was used as a "vehicle" with the intention to allegedly usurp assets worth ₹2,000 crore of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper. The counsel further contended that after taking over the ownership of AJL, the YI that was controlled by the Gandhi family had announced that it would not publish the newspaper. The agency also alleged that apart from Delhi, the AJL had properties in Lucknow, Bhopal, and Indore, Panchkula, Patna and other parts of the country that had been given by various central and state governments after 1947. ED said that these properties were transferred to YI for making illegal money. The defence will commence its counter arguments on Friday.

At the last hearing on Wednesday, the counsel for ED told the court that the agency could make the Congress party an accused in the case if it found evidence of its involvement.

"The ED can make AICC an accused in the future if it finds evidence. Just because the ED has not made AICC an accused, does not mean it is deprived of its right to do it," the agency's counsel had contended on Wednesday.