"Rahul Gandhi is being harassed:": HD Kumaraswamy on ED's 5-day long grilling in National Herald case

Hassan: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday labelled Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s questioning of Rahul Gandhi as harassment adding that the former Congress chief was being harassed under the garb of questioning in the National Herald case.

Speaking to the reporters in Hassan on Wednesday, Kumaraswamy questioned if the ED actually need five days of relentless questioning to get any information from a person.

"Rahul Gandhi is being constantly called for inquiries to get information. Five days to inquire? All registrations and information are available to ED. They can finish all inquiries in half an hour," Kumaraswamy told reporters.

The Congress leader was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate for five days in the money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper. The Wayanad MP spent more than 50 hours over five sittings, with the investigators questioning him over multiple sessions and recording his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Kumaraswamy further alleged that the President of the Contractors Association in Karnataka had written to the Prime Minister and complained about the 40 percent commission. "Why wasn't inquiry done here?" the JD-S leader asked.

He alleged that Rahul Gandhi's questioning had been done on "political grounds".

Meanwhile, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Wednesday wrote to the Enforcement Directorate urging that her appearance for questioning in National Herald case be put off for a few weeks till she recovers from her recent Covid infection. Sonia, who was hospitalised because of lung infection, was discharged last week and is recovering at home. She had been summoned to appear before the ED on Thursday.