ED questions Rahul for 3rd consecutive day

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared before the ED on Wednesday for the third consecutive day of questioning in the National Herald money laundering case, with the agency seeking answers about his "personal role" in taking decisions with regard to the media organisation and its owner Young Indian.

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned the Congress MP for questioning for the fourth time on Friday, officials said Wednesday. They said he sought exemption for Thursday which was allowed.

Gandhi (51) arrived at the ED headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi around 11.35 am with his "Z+" category CRPF security escort.

He was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as his convoy whizzed past police barricades thronged by media persons and party supporters.

A huge contingent of police and paramilitary personnel has been deployed around the federal agency's office, and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) are in force.

The questioning began at 12 noon and the ED has been conducting a video and audio recording of the statement of Gandhi during all the three days' sessions.

His statements are being typed on A4-size papers and are minutely reviewed by him and signed before submission to the investigating officer. 

Gandhi, agency sources said, is being asked about the assets worth about Rs 800 crore "owned" by AJL and how a not-for-profit company like Young Indian (YI) was undertaking commercial activities of renting out its land and building assets.