New Delhi:
A few days before the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has been found to be coronavirus positive. She wad due to appear before the investigating agency on June 8.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Sonia Gandhi was holding several meetings with leaders and workers last week.
On Wednesday evening, she was found to be coronavirus positive. Sonia Gandhi has developed mild Covid-19 symptoms and has isolated herself.
“Some of them tested Covid-19 positive. Last evening, Sonia Gandhi developed mild fever. She tested Covid-19 positive and has isolated herself. Medical consultation has taken place and she is recovering,” Surjewala said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had confirmed that Sonia Gandhi would visit the ED office on June 8. On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi has sought more time to appear before the ED.
The ED on Wednesday said that the questioning of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi is in connection with alleged illegal properties acquired by Associated Journals Limited (AJL).
The case was registered recently to probe alleged financial irregularities in the party-promoted Young Indian, which owns the National Herald newspaper. Officials said the agency wants to record the statements of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
National Herald is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and is owned by Young Indian Private Limited. As part of the probe, the agency had recently questioned senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal.
Officials said the questioning of senior Congress leaders and the Gandhi family is part of the ED’s probe to understand the shareholding pattern, financial transactions and role of promoters of Young Indian and AJL.
The agency registered a fresh case under criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court here took cognizance of the Income Tax Department’s investigation against Young Indian Pvt Ltd based on a private criminal complaint filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013. The Congress party’s first family, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, are among the promoters and shareholders of Young Indian.
In 2014, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy had filed a case against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Subramanian Swamy had accused the Gandhi family of misappropriation of 55 crores in the National Herald case.
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