'Selective Justice Is Political Thuggery': Congress On ED Chargesheet Against Sonia, Rahul Gandhi In Herald Case

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Wednesday strongly criticised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for filing a chargesheet against senior party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, calling the move “vendetta in legal disguise.”

Addressing the media, senior Congress leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi questioned why no action has ever been taken against any NDA ally or BJP leader. He accused the Enforcement Directorate of being biased, claiming that "Selective justice is actually nothing but political thuggery."

"This is nothing but a vendetta in legal disguise. ED should answer why no NDA ally or BJP leader has ever been touched by the ED. Selective justice is actually nothing but political thuggery," Singhvi said, news agency ANI reported.

Previously, in a self-made video, after the ED filed a prosecution complaint in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, Singhvi told news agency ANI that there is "nothing" in the case in a legal sense.

"This will be contested fully in all aspects... I think the government, by such matters, is only exposing itself and its campaign of political vendetta because there is absolutely nothing in this case in a legal sense," Singhvi said.

In the meantime, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh stated that the Party is not going to be scared following this action."With the spirit of revenge, the Bharatiya Janata Party tries to trap opposition leaders. But the Congress Party is not going to be scared of this," Singh said.

Following a chargesheet, the Congress workers and several senior leaders staged a protest at the All India Congress Committee headquarters at 24, Akbar Road on Wednesday. The protesters called it a "politically motivated" move by the Centre to target opposition leaders using investigative agencies, according to PTI.

ED’s Case Stems From Trial Court Order

According to a report by Indian Express, the ED issued notices last week to take possession of immovable assets valued at Rs 661 crore, located in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, which had been previously attached in its money laundering investigation involving Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the 'National Herald', and Young Indian, the company that owns it.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who hold the majority stake in Young Indian, are under scrutiny for allegedly acquiring AJL and its assets for just Rs 50 lakh. The properties in question were reportedly worth over Rs 2,000 crore and were linked to a loan allegedly extended by the Congress party. Both leaders were questioned by the ED in 2022 as part of the investigation.

The ED’s case stems from a trial court order that permitted the Income Tax Department to examine the National Herald's financials and assess the tax liabilities of Sonia and Rahul. This order followed a 2013 petition filed by Subramanian Swamy.

According to sources, the ED proceeded with filing a chargesheet after gathering substantial evidence. Apart from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, others named in the chargesheet include Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd. The ED has estimated the current market value of the assets involved in the case at Rs 5,000 crore.

ALSO READ | ED Arrests Ex-Managing Director R Leelavathi In Karnataka Bhovi 'Scam'

india