💥 Gandhis in Trouble? ED Seizes ₹661 Cr Properties in National Herald Case 🏛️🔥
- MediaFx
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
TL;DR 🧾
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated proceedings to seize properties worth ₹661 crore linked to Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The assets, located in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, are tied to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which is under investigation for alleged money laundering and financial irregularities.
🕵️♂️ What's the Buzz, Bro? 📰
The ED has issued notices to seize properties worth ₹661 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a company linked to Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. The properties include prime locations in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, notably the Herald House in Delhi.
🧾 The National Herald Saga 📜
The National Herald case revolves around allegations of financial irregularities and misuse of funds related to the National Herald newspaper. The case garnered attention when former BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint accusing Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress leaders of cheating and misappropriating funds associated with the National Herald. The allegations centered on a loan given by the Congress party to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company that owned the National Herald newspaper. Swamy alleged that the loan was not repaid but instead converted into equity, effectively transferring the ownership of AJL to a new company called Young Indian Ltd, in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold significant shares.
🏛️ ED's Move: Seizing the Assets 💼
The ED's action involves issuing notices to take possession of immovable assets worth ₹661 crore that it had attached in a probe into the money laundering case against Congress-controlled AJL. The properties include the Herald House in Delhi, a building in Mumbai's Bandra area, and the AJL building in Lucknow. The notices seek vacation of the Delhi and Lucknow premises, while for the Mumbai building, the company has the option of transferring rent to the ED.
🧠 MediaFx's Take 🎯
This move by the ED raises concerns about the use of investigative agencies for political purposes. While accountability is essential, it's crucial to ensure that legal actions are free from political bias and uphold democratic principles. The timing and nature of such actions should be scrutinized to maintain the integrity of democratic institutions.
