ED Summons Sonia & Rahul For Questioning In Laundering Case

Sonia To Appear On June 8, Rahul Seeks Deferment

- Pradeep Thakur

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul forquestioning next week in a money laundering case registered against Young Indian, which owns Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) and its properties worth over Rs 800 crore (market value as estimated by ED). Sonia and her two children-Rahul and Priyanka-are majority shareholders in Young Indian, which was incorporated by them along with Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey in November 2010.

While Sonia has been asked to appear on June 8, Rahul has sought deferment since he has been travelling overseas. The development marks a crucial phase in the investigation into the allegation of Gandhis turning AJL which used to bring out National Herald and other Congress mouthpieces -into their family entity in violation of I-T laws and by using money laundered through shell companies.

₹90-crore 'fake' loan to AJL under the scanner

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate will record the statements of Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul, who have been summoned by the agency in the National Herald case, on the alleged money trail mapped by the agency and the I-T department, especially how they "took over commercial properties worth Rs 800 crore through Young Indian, which had a share capital of just Rs 5 lakh".