The Enforcement Directorate's allegations against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi ignite tensions between India’s Congress party and the ruling BJP, as citizens rally against perceived government overreach.
**Gandhi Family Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Money Laundering Scheme**
**Gandhi Family Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Money Laundering Scheme**
India's financial crimes agency charges the Gandhis, prompting calls for nationwide protests.
In a significant development, India's Congress party announced that it would conduct nationwide protests this Wednesday in response to serious allegations levied against its senior leaders, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED presented its findings to a Delhi court on Tuesday, accusing the Gandhi family of engaging in money laundering activities that involve the establishment of a shell company to illegally acquire assets of the National Herald newspaper, estimated to be worth over 20 billion rupees ($233 million).
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh vehemently criticized the allegations, labeling them as “politics of vendetta and intimidation” orchestrated by the current government. The Gandhis, who have consistently denied any misconduct, have not publicly addressed the charges since they were made.
The investigation implicates not only the Gandhis but other prominent members of Congress, including overseas chief Sam Pitroda. The inquiry was initiated in 2021 after a private complaint by Subramanian Swamy, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Swamy's allegations suggest that the Gandhis misappropriated party funds to gain control over Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper, enabling them to acquire prime properties worth millions.
The Congress party maintains that it stepped in to rescue AJL due to its historical significance, asserting that they loaned over 900 million rupees to the company throughout the years. AJL, which became debt-free in 2010 through a debt-equity swap, transferred its shares to a newly formed entity called Young Indian, which the party argues operates as a non-profit organization. Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi serve as directors of Young Indian, each holding a 38% stake in the company.
The ED has alleged that Young Indian acquired AJL's properties for a mere 5 million rupees, significantly undervaluing the assets. Additionally, the agency has issued notices to seize properties valued at 6.6 billion rupees linked to Young Indian across major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai. The case is scheduled for a hearing on April 25.
This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions in Indian politics, where the opposition accuses the Modi government of weaponizing institutions like the ED against political rivals. Statistics show that the agency has summoned, interrogated, or conducted raids on around 150 opposition figures since Modi's ascendance to power in 2014.
Founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru, the National Herald newspaper has a storied history intertwined with India's freedom struggle but ceased regular publication in 2008 due to financial difficulties. After being acquired by Congress in 2010, it was relaunched as a digital news platform in 2017, but its historical financial issues remain a point of contention.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh vehemently criticized the allegations, labeling them as “politics of vendetta and intimidation” orchestrated by the current government. The Gandhis, who have consistently denied any misconduct, have not publicly addressed the charges since they were made.
The investigation implicates not only the Gandhis but other prominent members of Congress, including overseas chief Sam Pitroda. The inquiry was initiated in 2021 after a private complaint by Subramanian Swamy, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Swamy's allegations suggest that the Gandhis misappropriated party funds to gain control over Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper, enabling them to acquire prime properties worth millions.
The Congress party maintains that it stepped in to rescue AJL due to its historical significance, asserting that they loaned over 900 million rupees to the company throughout the years. AJL, which became debt-free in 2010 through a debt-equity swap, transferred its shares to a newly formed entity called Young Indian, which the party argues operates as a non-profit organization. Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi serve as directors of Young Indian, each holding a 38% stake in the company.
The ED has alleged that Young Indian acquired AJL's properties for a mere 5 million rupees, significantly undervaluing the assets. Additionally, the agency has issued notices to seize properties valued at 6.6 billion rupees linked to Young Indian across major cities, including Delhi and Mumbai. The case is scheduled for a hearing on April 25.
This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions in Indian politics, where the opposition accuses the Modi government of weaponizing institutions like the ED against political rivals. Statistics show that the agency has summoned, interrogated, or conducted raids on around 150 opposition figures since Modi's ascendance to power in 2014.
Founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru, the National Herald newspaper has a storied history intertwined with India's freedom struggle but ceased regular publication in 2008 due to financial difficulties. After being acquired by Congress in 2010, it was relaunched as a digital news platform in 2017, but its historical financial issues remain a point of contention.
