Rahul Gandhi joins ED probe for second day in National Herald case

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi reached the Enforcement Directorate office on Tuesday for a second day, for another round of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the National Herald case.

The Congress leader arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi with his "Z+" category CRPF security escort even as police personnel were deployed in huge numbers and section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was imposed around the agency's office just like Monday. Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. ED had quizzed Rahul Gandhi for more than 10 hours on Monday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Officials said as Mr. Gandhi's questioning could not be completed on Monday, he was summoned again on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Congress workers and senior leaders outside the ED office shoved and manhandled police, who immediately detained them. The protesting Congress workers were dragged and bodily lifted onto buses and whisked away.

While agency sources informed that Mr. Gandhi recorded his statement and checked its transcript minutely, Congress leaders said the investigators took multiple breaks during his questioning.

The probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Private Limited.

Mr. Gandhi's mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is currently admitted to a hospital in New Delhi due to COVID-related issues, has also been summoned by the agency for questioning in the case on June 23.

The Congress has accused the Centre of targeting opposition leaders by misusing investigative agencies.