National Herald probe: Sonia Gandhi questioned for 3 hours, summoned again on Monday

The 75-year-old leader has been called for another round of questioning on Monday.

Gandhi, who recently recovered from Covid-19, was questioned keeping in mind the protocol with everyone participating equipped with a Covid negative certificate, officials said.

Her questioning was carried out by five officers led by a woman Additional Director, NDTV reported. The probe agency prepared 50 questions for the Congress chief.

The Congress has, meanwhile, claimed the ED had nothing to ask its party president Sonia Gandhi post 3 pm despite the veteran politician's offer to stay longer.

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted, "The ED had no more questions after 3 pm. Despite Mrs Sonia Gandhi offering to continue to be available for questioning, the ED concluded the questioning today.

"We were allowed to leave the Kingsway Camp police lines at 4 pm. On my way home. We were allowed to leave the Kingsway Camp police lines at 4 pm."

Meanwhile, the BJP has slammed the Congress for nationwide protests against the summoning of its party chief.

"Today Sonia Gandhi is going to be interrogated by the ED. The Congress party is going to conduct Satyagraha. This is not a Satyagraha, it is a chauvinism against the laws of the country and the country's institutions," said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar on Thursday.

He added that "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are on bail in this case, they are also accused of cheating".

What is the case?

The case relates to the ED probe into the alleged financial irregularities between Young Indian and Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper.

As per the complaint filed in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate, Associated Journals Limited (AJL) took an interest-free loan of Rs. 90.25 crore from Indian National Congress, which was not paid back.

Congress has maintained there is no money laundering involved and has called the summon a politically motivated move.

According to media reports, Rahul had told the ED during interrogation that late party leader Motilal Vora had overseen all the transactions related to the YI-AJL deal.

It may be noted that Gandhi was referring to the acquisition by Young India of Associated Journals Limited's assets worth hundreds of crores from Congress.