Cong Intensifies Attack on Govt Over Herald Case, BJP Hits Back

The Congress on Wednesday contested the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) charge sheet against former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, saying there was no question of money laundering and not even a whiff of crime of any sort.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

NEW DELHI: The Opposition party also held protests outside ED offices across the country.

Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that "two people who have a criminal mentality are circulating a fake narrative as Make in India has failed, they are now trying to Fake in India". He, however, did not name anyone.

A Delhi court is likely to consider the cognisance of the ED charge sheet, which is yet to be made public, on April 25.

Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who is set to represent Gandhis in the court, argued that Young Indian Foundation, a "not for profit" company, converted the debt of the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company running National Herald, into equity, calling it a globally accepted standard practice. He added that AJL shares were issued to the Young India and it became 90-99% shareholder of the AJL and not a single penny was taken as dividend, salary or perks from that company. "Where is the proceed of the crime?" he asked, while addressing a press conference with Jairam Ramesh.