Congress chief Sonia Gandhi hospitalized due to COVID-19-related issues
Indian National Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Sunday due to COVID-19 issues. Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Gandhi is stable but would remain in the hospital for a few days. To recall, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had issued summons to Gandhi in a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper.
ED issues fresh summons, Gandhi to depose on June 23
Sonia Gandhi tested positive for COVID-19 on June 2, a day after the ED issued a summons to her to depose on June 8. Following this, the central agency that investigates financial crimes issued a fresh summons to the Congress chief asking her to appear before it on June 23. Meanwhile, Surjewala thanked well-wishers on behalf of Gandhi for their "concern and good wishes."
Check out Randeep Singh Surjewala's tweet
Rahul Gandhi to appear before ED on Monday
On the other hand, Congress MP and Gandhi's son, Rahul Gandhi, will appear before the ED on Monday for questioning in the same case. Meanwhile, Congress has decided to challenge the agency politically and legally for targeting its leaders. There is a possibility that party MPs would accompany Rahul to the ED office on Monday as they see a political motive behind the summons.
What do we know about the money laundering case?
The case in which the Gandhis have been summoned relates to accusations of fraud and theft of National Herald funds in the purchase of the newspaper. They are accused of obtaining the National Herald assets by purchasing the former publisher of the newspaper, Associated Journals Limited (AJL), through another company Young India (YI) Limited, in which they had an 86% share.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed complaint in 2013
The high-profile case came to light in 2013 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint before a trial court. He accused top Congress leaders of cheating and breach of trust in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by Young Indian (YI). The National Herald was a newspaper founded by Jawaharlal Nehru along with other freedom fighters in 1938.
What did IT Department's assessment say?
Following the complaint, the Income Tax (IT) Department also began investigating the case. According to the IT Department, Rahul's shares in Young India would result in an income of Rs. 154 crore, rather than the initially estimated Rs. 68 lakh. It has already issued a demand notice to Young India for Rs. 249.15 crore for the fiscal year 2011-12.
