New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a preliminary enquiry in the National Herald case in which Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi have been accused by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy of cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of now-defunct daily.
ED officials are investigating if the transactions in the National Herald violate the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and if the documents provided by Swamy are genuine or not.
Congress leaders accused the BJP-led NDA government of indulging in political witch hunt. "Here is a government which while in opposition used to cry itself hoarse that the UPA used to hound its political adversaries. But in just one of power they are doing the same," said Congress leader Manish Tewari.
However, the BJP defended itself saying the law will take its own course.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court will hear petitions by Sonia and Rahul in the case. Both of them were summoned in June in the case.
Swamy has alleged misappropriation of assets worth Rs 2000 crore of the National Herald newspaper. He accused Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs 50 lakh by which Young Indian obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore which the AJL had owed to the Congress party.
He alleged that in the present scenario over Rs 2,000 crore worth of assets also got transferred to YI, whose 76 per cent of shareholding vests with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and the remaining shareholding of 24 per cent vests with the other accused.
The Congress is hoping that the Gandhis who have been summoned for misappropriation of funds will get relief. Among other leaders who have received summons include Congress leader Motilal Vora and senior Congress member Oscar Fernandes.
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