'National Herald Ki Loot': BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj's Bag Catches Eyeballs At Parliament

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj was seen walking into the Parliament Annexe Building carrying a bag with 'National Herald Ki Loot' written on it, on Tuesday. The MP was there to attend a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) meeting on 'One Nation One Election'.

This comes days after the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in an alleged money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.

While speaking to ANI, Swaraj said that the National Herald case marked the first time corruption had taken place in “the fourth pillar of democracy - media”. She said the ED chargesheet highlighted “the old working style and ideology of the Congress party”.

“In the guise of service, they make public institutions a tool to increase their personal property. This is a very serious matter...The Congress party and its top leadership are accountable for this," Swaraj told ANI.

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A chargesheet was filed by the ED against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda in the alleged National Herald money laundering case earlier this month. The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has posted the matter for April 25.

The ED has pegged the "proceeds of crime" in the money laundering case at Rs 988 crore, and the current market value of the linked assets at Rs 5,000 crore.

The case stems from a 2012 complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, which alleged a criminal conspiracy involving the Gandhis and other senior Congress leaders. The case pertains to allegations of financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds involving the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper.

Swamy alleged that Young Indian took over AJL's assets in a 'malicious manner' to gain control of properties worth over Rs 2,000 crore. He further alleged that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and others, including the late Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, were involved in a criminal conspiracy to fraudulently acquire AJL’s assets, valued at over Rs 2,000 crore, for just Rs 50 lakh.

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