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New Delhi: In a big jolt to Gandhis, entities worth Rs 90 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited and Young Indian– the company linked to Congress’ bigwigs Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi– has been seized by the Enforcement Directorate in connection to its probe into the National Herald Case. The probe agency initiated the investigation based on a court order following a complaint in 2014.
ED has issued an order to provisionally attach properties worth Rs. 751.9 Crore in a money-laundering case investigated under the PMLA, 2002. Investigation revealed that M/s. Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) is in possession of proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties…
— ED (@dir_ed) November 21, 2023
“ED has issued an order to provisionally attach properties worth ₹ 751.9 Crore in a money-laundering case investigated under the PMLA, 2002,” the ED said on Tuesday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“During the probe of the case it was found that Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) is in possession of proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties spread across many cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow to the tune of Rs. 661.69 Crore and Young Indian (YI) is in possession of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs. 90.21 Crore in the form of investment in equity shares of AJL, adds Enforcement Directorate (ED),” the ED said in a statement.
The confiscated property includes the National Herald Houses in Delhi and Mumbai and Nehru Bhawan in Lucknow. Reports suggest that the overall value of properties seized belonging to Associated Journals is 752 crore.
The federal probe agency is investigating an alleged money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper. The case involves allegations of cheating, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust in the acquisition of the Associated Journals Limited — which ran the newspaper — by Young Indian pvt ltd.
Congress president slams BJP
In a retaliation to ongoing investigation, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X, said reports of attachment of AJL’s properties by the Enforcement Directorate “are a clear indication of the BJP’s panic in the ongoing elections”.
Reports of attachment of AJL's properties by the Enforcement Directorate are a clear indication of the BJP's panic in the ongoing elections.
Staring at defeat in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram, the BJP Govt feels compelled to misuse its… pic.twitter.com/pnJYnVartI
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) November 21, 2023
