'Political Victimization': Kamal Nath on Legal Actions Against Sonia, Rahul
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Synopsis
Kamal Nath, the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, condemned the seizure of National Herald properties and the charge sheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, labeling it as political victimization. He expressed that such actions are driven by fear of rising public support for Congress.
Key Takeaways
- Kamal Nath labels the ED's actions as political persecution.
- The charge sheet includes Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others.
- ED investigates properties linked to Congress leaders.
- Notices served for properties worth Rs 661 crore.
- Young Indian acquired AJL properties significantly undervalued.
Bhopal/New Delhi, April 15 (NationPress) Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath expressed on Tuesday that the confiscation of National Herald properties and the charge sheet against prominent Congress figures, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, represent an act of political persecution.
His comments arise from the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) initiative to file a charge sheet in the National Herald money laundering case, which implicates senior Congress members such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, and others.
The charge sheet has been presented to the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi, which is anticipated to hear arguments on April 25.
Kamal Nath, a close associate of the Gandhi family, stated that the populace and Congress supporters firmly back the party’s leadership.
“Such undemocratic actions stem from a fear of the growing support for the Congress party and the rising popularity of Rahul Gandhi. The Congress will challenge this injustice at every level,” the former Chief Minister remarked on X.
This latest issue for the Congress-affiliated AJL coincides with the ED sending notices to property registrars in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow to seize properties valued at Rs 661 crore.
These properties were attached after investigations indicated significant generation, possession, and use of proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 988 crore.
In Delhi, notices were affixed on the wall of AJL property-5 (A), located at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in Central Delhi, which houses media companies and newspaper offices.
Notices were issued on Friday in accordance with Section 8 of PMLA, 2002 and Rule 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Taking Possession of Attached or Frozen Properties Confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2013.
In Mumbai, a notice was also served to Jindal South West Projects Limited, which occupies the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors at Herald House, Bandra (East).
Jindal South West Projects was instructed to transfer the rent/lease payments monthly to the Director, Directorate of Enforcement.
In Lucknow, notices were posted on property number 1, Bisheshwar Nath Road.
Previously, the ED carried out searches and confiscations at various sites, uncovering incriminating documents related to the alleged money laundering operations.
Investigations revealed that Young Indian, a private entity beneficially owned by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, obtained AJL properties worth Rs 2,000 crore for just Rs 50 lakh, greatly undervaluing their actual worth.
The ED's inquiry also suggested that Young Indian and AJL properties were utilized for generating additional proceeds of crime through fraudulent donations totaling Rs 18 crore, fake advance rent of Rs 38 crore, and sham advertisements amounting to Rs 29 crore.
The ED's investigation began in 2021, following a cognizance order issued on June 26, 2014, by the Metropolitan Magistrate Patiala House Courts in New Delhi, based on a private complaint lodged by Subramanian Swamy.
This complaint brought to light a criminal conspiracy involving several notable political figures, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and Young Indian for their alleged participation in a money laundering case.
