Congress’s biggest weapons in the field to defend Rahul-Sonia Gandhi.. Will they be able to escape money laundering charges
National Herald Case: Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in the court that the allegation leveled by the Enforcement Directorate on Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case is very strange. According to him, this is a case of money laundering in which there is neither any property, nor has the property been used. New Delhi: Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi has taken the lead on behalf of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case related to Congress. He described the allegations of money laundering leveled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on senior Congress leaders in the court on Friday as a strange case. He said that this is a case of money laundering in which there is no property, no use or display of property. Singhvi said this when he was starting the argument on behalf of the defense in the National Herald case. Singhvi’s response to ED’s allegations The ED has alleged that the Gandhi family has a 76 percent stake in Young Indian (YI). Young Indian is accused of usurping the property of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in exchange for a loan of ₹ 90 crore. Singhvi, while responding to these allegations, said that all this was done to make AJL debt free. He also said that the court does not have the right to hear this case. Abhishek Manu Singhvi gave these arguments in the court Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, while responding to the allegations of ED, said that this step was taken to make AJL debt free. Every company has the right under the law to eliminate its debt. Singhvi said every company does this. They transfer their debt from one unit to another. This makes the company debt free. He said that Young Indian is a non-profit company. This means that it cannot give dividends, allowances, salary or bonus to anyone. ED said – this is a classic case of money laundering ED said in the court that this is a classic case of money laundering. The agency also alleged that Young Indian was used to usurp AJL’s assets worth ₹2,000 crore. AJL publishes the National Herald newspaper. The federal agency filed a prosecution complaint (equivalent to a chargesheet) in a local court on April 9 against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, M/s Young India, M/s Dotex Merchandise and Sunil Bhandari. What will be the court’s decision now? The court will decide to take cognizance of the chargesheet only after hearing the arguments of the agency and the accused. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that ED’s claim that Young Indian usurped the assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) is wrong. He said that YI had helped AJL to become debt free. Young Indian is a non-profit company, so it cannot give profit to anyone. Curated by: Ruchir Shukla Ruchir Shukla has been associated with Navbharat Times Online since February 2020. First worked in a news agency, then after TV journalism, entered digital media. Has been working in digital media for almost 10 years. Has a special interest in all kinds of news like politics, crime, positive. Courtesy : Hindi News
Rahul Gandhi Slams Modi Over Trump Trade Deadline; Goyal Responds ‘India Won’t…’
Rahul Gandhi claimed PM Modi would “meekly bow” to Donald Trump’s July 9 trade deadline, accusing the government of prioritizing U.S. pressure over national interest. The statement came amid intense India-U.S. tariff negotiations. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hit back, saying India will not compromise and that this is not the “UPA era”. Goyal reaffirmed that a trade deal will happen only if India’s interests are secured. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
‘AICC tried to revive AJL’: Rahul Gandhi’s counsel in Herald case
NEW DELHI: All India Congress Committee (AICC) was not trying to sell assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company which published National Herald newspaper, but rather trying to save the institution that was a part of the freedom movement, senior advocate R S Cheema, representing Rahul Gandhi, told a Delhi court Saturday. Cheema made his submissions before the court of special judge Vishal Gogne, which is hearing arguments on the point of cognisance of the chargesheet filed against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and others in National Herald money laundering case. “In post-Independence period, it (AJL) was never a commercial institution. We (AICC) were trying to retrieve an institution which is part of the freedom movement heritage. The problem was not recovering the loan (given to AJL) but to revive it, to see that it comes back on the rails. AICC was not looking for profit from sales. This is a squinted version,” Cheema said. According to ED, Sonia and Rahul, along with others and a private company, Young Indian Pvt Ltd, conspired to launder money by fraudulently usurping AJL’s properties valued at over Rs 2,000 crore in exchange for a loan of Rs 90 crore. Cheema said ED’s allegations were “crude lies”. The senior advocate said ED made unwarranted inferences against Rahul by wrongly assuming that he was the person in-charge of AICC’s affairs as its general secretary in 2010. According to the party constitution, AICC has several general secretaries at a point in time, and no one of them could be in-charge of its affairs, Cheema pointed out. The counsel further stated Sonia, then Congress president, was wrongly inferred as person in-charge of AICC when the loan was assigned to AJL. The arguments will continue against other accused, including Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, on Monday. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
National Herald case: ‘Strange, unprecedented,’ Sonia Gandhi’s counsel tells court; cites ‘Hamlet’
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday criticised the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case against her in connection with the National Herald, calling it “truly a strange case”. Her lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing in a Delhi court, argued that the ED’s case made no sense and compared the situation to staging Hamlet “without the Prince of Denmark”. “This is truly a strange case. More than strange. Unprecedented. This is an alleged case of money laundering, without any property, without use or projection of property,” Singhvi submitted before Special Judge Vishal Gogne. He also pointed to the long delay in ED’s action. “They did nothing for several years and instead picked up a private complaint,” Singhvi said. “They are, obviously, people associated with the Congress. To have the National Herald in a body not associated with the Congress would be worse than having Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark,” he told the court. The ED has accused Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, along with Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and others, of laundering money in the alleged fraudulent takeover of assets worth over Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper. The ED in its argument had claimed that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were “beneficial owners” of Young Indian, a not-for-profit company that took over AJL’s assets after the Congress party gave a Rs 90 crore interest-free loan to AJL. That debt, the ED argues, was fraudulently converted into equity in favour of Young Indian, giving it ownership of AJL’s assets. On July 3, ASG Raju told the court that the entire operation was orchestrated to favour Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, who together held 76% shares in Young Indian. “They (Young Indian) didn’t even have the wherewithal to pay Rs 50 lakh. During this time, Rahul and Sonia were directors of the company along with Sam Pitroda and others,” Raju said. He described it as a “classic case of money laundering” where fabricated rent receipts and fraudulent payments were used to siphon off funds. Singhvi, further argued that the entire purpose of Young Indian was to make AJL debt-free. “Every company is entitled under law and does, every day, make their companies get free by a variety of instruments. So you take away the debt and assign it to another entity. So this company becomes debt free,” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Bihar polls: Free sanitary pad packs with Rahul Gandhi’s photo sparks row; ‘this is nothing but an insult,’ say women
PATNA: Congress’s announcement that it would distribute five lakh sanitary pad boxes under its “Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana” triggered a political storm in Bihar on Friday after images of party MP Rahul Gandhi appeared on the boxes. NDA criticised the move, calling it a “direct insult” to women, who have emerged as key voters in recent state elections. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar, speaking in the presence of All India Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba, said the scheme was aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene awareness among rural women. “We have a special plan for womenfolk in Bihar. We plan to provide free sanitary napkins to women for which we will launch an intensive campaign,” Kumar told reporters. However, controversy erupted when he held up a sanitary pad box displaying Rahul’s photo alongside the INDIA bloc’s proposed “Mai-Bahin Maan Yojana”, which promises Rs 2,500 monthly to women if voted into govt. JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar accused Congress of degrading the dignity of women. “Congress seems to have taken a leaf out of the book of its ally, RJD, which has been known for a lumpen style of politics. Our leader Nitish Kumar has been working tirelessly for women’s empowerment and the results are for all to see. But Congress has insulted the dignity of women,” he said. BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna echoed the sentiment. “Whatever needs to be done for women in Bihar is being done by govt. But Congress, which is worried about its prospects in the upcoming assembly polls, has shown its ideological bankruptcy. Its leader, Rahul Gandhi, has been notorious for lacking a sense of propriety. The trait seems to have afflicted the party, in which sycophancy reigns supreme,” he said. Women expressed disapproval of the design. “This is nothing but an insult to women who will find the image of a male while using the sanitary pads… Congress is stooping too low to win the support of women voters,” said Pinki Kumari of Muzaffarpur. “If Congress thinks it will get support from women by distributing free napkins with the image of Rahul, then it is sheer stupidity,” she added, arguing the focus should have been on women’s safety. “Rahul is trying to emerge as a ‘Pad Man’ but that is not the way to launch a party campaign,” said Sunita Singh of Vaishali. Defending the campaign, Lamba said, “In the modern era, the question should not be why Rahul-ji’s photo was put on the sanitary napkin box, the real question is why our daughters in Bihar are still forced to use cloth during menstruation and become victims of serious diseases?” She also criticised BJP’s response. “From a ‘sindoor box’ to vaccine certificates, BJP, which prints Modi-ji’s photo on everything, is now troubled by Rahul-ji’s photo. The work that govt should have done, we have started,” Lamba said, crediting Rahul’s “inspiration and visionary thinking” for making the campaign possible. (With PTI inputs) Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
BJP mocks Mallikarjun Kharge’s Telangana visit as ‘political eyewash’; says people misled by Sonia, Rahul Gandhi
HYDERABAD: The Telangana BJP dismissed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s visit to the state as “political eyewash” and a desperate cover-up for the party’s unfulfilled promises. BJP state chief spokesperson NV Subhash said Kharge’s visit holds little relevance for Telangana’s people, who are still waiting for the implementation of the ‘six guarantees’ Congress promised during the 2023 elections. “It’s been over 18 months since Congress came to power, and not a single key promise has been fulfilled. The people were misled by dynasts Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and now they’re being fed more hollow rhetoric,” Subhash said. He also took a swipe at Kharge’s leadership credentials. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
India-US trade deal: Rahul Gandhi reacts to Piyush Goyal’s ‘national interest’ remark; claims PM Modi to ‘meekly bow’ before Trump
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would “meekly bow” to US President Donald Trump, as New Delhi weighs its interests amid ongoing trade talks with Washington. Gandhi’s remark was a reaction to Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal’s statement, where he said: “We are not working towards any specific deadlines, we are working towards national interest”. Trump has set July 9 as the deadline for trade agreements. “Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants, mark my words, Modi will meekly bow to the Trump tariff deadline,” Gandhi wrote on X. India will enter into a trade agreement with the US only if its interests are protected and it is able to sustain a tariff advantage over its competitors, while prioritising the interests of farmers, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said Friday. Trump had imposed reciprocal tariffs on nearly 100 countries but agreed to a 90-day pause that is to end Tuesday. India was slapped with 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs. There is uncertainty over whether India and US can agree to an early tranche or a mini deal before that even as a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement is negotiated by Fall (Sept-Oct) after a meeting between Trump and PM Modi. For India, lowering tariffs on farm products, such as maize and soybean, as well as dairy products is a concern. While Goyal did not get into the specifics, he said India will not compromise the interests of farm and dairy sectors. “Farmers’ interest is always paramount for Modi government. In any negotiation we have done, you have seen UK, Australia, Mauritius, EFTA and UAE agreements, India’s farmers have been protected.” The government has refrained from offering concessions in major agricultural products, but for US, it is the main focus. While some government officials said US demands were not very clear, for India, Goyal said Indian expectations for duty concessions in labour-intensive sectors were the focus of the trade deal. India was hoping for duty concessions in leather, footwear, textiles and some auto parts in return for reducing levies on automobiles and American whiskey. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
ED arguments over in Herald case, it’s Gandhis’ turn now
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed before a Delhi court on Thursday that the National Herald case is a “classic case of money laundering”. Young Indian Pvt Ltd, in which ex-Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi held a 76% stake, was allegedly created to launder Rs 2,000 crore from Associated Journals Ltd, the company that published ‘National Herald’ newspaper. “This is a classic case where the offence of money laundering is made against all the accused,” submitted additional solicitor general SV Raju, appearing for the ED before the court of special judge Vishal Gogne. He asked the court to take cognisance of the chargesheet. The court was hearing arguments on the point of cognisance of the chargesheet filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the money laundering case. The agency concluded its arguments in the case on Thursday. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi will make submissions before the court on Friday, appearing for Sonia Gandhi.The ED, through the ASG, submitted that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were beneficial owners and in ultimate control of Young Indian, and that after the deaths of other shareholders they had 100% control. “These two persons controlled the All India Congress Committee. They saw that AICC released a Rs 90 crore loan to Associated Journals Limited, or AJL, a Rs 2,000 crore company, the publisher of National Herald newspaper. The purpose was to have Rs 2,000 crore,” Raju told the court. Raju claimed Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were responsible for the conduct of business of Young Indian and the fraudulent takeover of properties valued at over Rs 2,000 crore of AJL was with their connivance and consent. The ASG alleged that the shareholding in the venture was just in name and that all the other accused were puppets of the Gandhi family. He added that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi control Congress and wanted to get hold of Rs 2,000 crore instead of the said Rs 92 crore. As per the ED, Congress provided an interest-free loan of Rs 90 crore to AJL, which had assets worth Rs 2,000 crore, for a consideration of just Rs 50 lakh. This debt was allegedly converted into equity in YI’s favour. “They deprived AJL’s shareholders of their right. YI invested just Rs 50 lakh and got Rs 2,000 crore. YI gained wrongfully and shareholders suffered,” he said. The court asked Raju if the shareholders are also witnesses in this case. Calling the matter a little peculiar, the judge asked whether they should not also be made witnesses. “The ED has not investigated the 1,000 shareholders. So will this trial go on without them being witnesses,” the court asked. The ASG replied, “The record speaks for itself. This is a classic case of money laundering. The real culprits are these seven persons (including Sonia and Rahul), once you pierce the veil. Today, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold almost all shares. They’re the beneficial owners of the company.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Can’t compel Rahul Gandhi to produce book he cited in speech against Savarkar: Court
Pune: A special magisterial court on Thursday rejected the plea filed by the great-grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Satyaki, seeking a direction to the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to supply a copy of the book he cited during his alleged defamatory speech in London in 2023 against the Hindutva ideologue. Satyaki is the complainant in the defamation case he filed against Gandhi under the provisions of IPC section 500. Judicial Magistrate First Class Amol Shinde, in his three-page order, observed that Gandhi couldn’t be compelled to disclose his evidence before the trial commencement. The court noted, “The accused cannot be compelled to produce the document/book sought by the complainant. As per Article 20 (3) of the Constitution of India, no person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself. Therefore, this court is of the opinion that an order cannot be passed directing the accused to file incriminating documents.” Satyaki’s lawyer, Sangram Kolhatkar, filed a plea under the provisions of section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita seeking a copy of the book cited by Gandhi in his speech in London on March 5, 2023. Opposing the plea, Gandhi’s lawyer, Milind Pawar, submitted that the trial in the case has not yet commenced and his client couldn’t be compelled to disclose or divulge or submit any part of the documents relied upon before the trial could commence. Pawar argued Satyaki was required to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and the burden of proof was entirely on him. “My client is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. If the complainant’s plea is allowed, it would cause serious prejudice to Gandhi’s right to a fair trial,” he said, adding that forcing the defence to prematurely disclose the defence was not permitted under the Criminal Procedure Code and Constitution. The court order read, “No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself and nor can he be compelled to produce incriminating documents material against him. The plea filed by Savarkar is liable to be rejected.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Farmers sink deeper into debt but govt indifferent, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led governments at the Centreand in Maharashtra of “watching indifferently” while farmers were sinking deeper into debt. Gandhi targeted the government over the reported suicides of 767 farmers in Maharashtra during the past three months, an issue that was raised by the Congress and other Opposition parties in the assembly on Wednesday and staged a walkout. “Think about it…In just three months, 767 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra. Is this just a statistic? No. These are 767 destroyed homes. 767 families that will never be able to recover. And the government? It is silent. It is watching indifferently. Farmers are sinking deeper into debt every day – seeds are expensive, fertilisers are expensive, diesel is expensive…but there is no guarantee of MSP. When they demand a loan waiver, they are ignored. But those who have crores? The Modi government easily waives their loans,” Gandhi said in a social media post in Hindi. He said though PM Modi had said that he will double the income of farmers, “this system is killing farmers silently, but continuously, and Modi ji is watching the spectacle of his own PR.” Courtewsy : TET Note: This news is originally published on https:/theeconomictimes.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.