New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi's questioning in the National Herald case today was led by Kuldeep Singh, an Assistant Director at the Enforcement Directorate, who had also questioned Rahul Gandhi.
Sonia Gandhi, 75, was questioned for nearly three hours and was allowed to leave during lunchtime. The Congress president, who had missed summons in the past citing Covid, had made special requests to the Enforcement Directorate.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, her daughter, stayed in the building during the questioning, close at hand with Sonia Gandhi's medicines if there was any need.
The Congress president reportedly requested a spacious and ventilated room for her questioning. Also, she had asked that officials and staff who interacted with her be tested for Covid, sources say.
Rahul Gandhi was questioned for over 40 hours across five days. But keeping the Congress president's health in mind, the Enforcement Directorate wrapped up her questioning far sooner. There is no new summons yet.
The Enforcement Directorate claims Rahul Gandhi's questioning took more time because his answers "did not match". After each round of questioning, when he was asked to sign off on the typed transcript, the Congress MP "improvised some answers", claimed sources. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, however, accuse the agency of dragging out his questioning deliberately, to harass him.
The Gandhis are being investigated in what is called the "National Herald case" involving the Young Indian's takeover of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company that runs the National Herald newspaper.
The Enforcement Directorate says the Young Indian company also took over Rs 800 crore in assets of AJL. According to the Income Tax department, this should be considered an asset of the shareholders of Young Indian -- Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, for which they should pay tax.
The Congress says the assets of AJL went to Young Indian, a non-profit, and so the shareholders could not make any money from the assets since that is not allowed under the law. To which, the Enforcement Directorate says the Young Indian claims to be a non-profit but has not done any charity work.
Sonia Gandhi's questioning revolved around personal details of her shareholding and taxes and the links of Associated Journal to Young Indian, say sources. She was also asked about the links of the Congress party with the companies.
For the questioning, massive security arrangements were made at the Enforcement Directorate office as well as roads near the Congress office and Sonia Gandhi's home because of street protests by Congress leaders.