New Delhi [India], April 13: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Sunday called the National Herald case an “open and shut” matter and questioned why no Congress leaders have been arrested so far. She alleged a hidden alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, stating that both parties only appear to oppose each other during elections.
“Why are Congress leaders not being arrested? It’s because BJP and Congress are united. Every time there’s an election, such cases are brought up again. The BJP has had control over investigative agencies for 10 years. The National Herald case is straightforward,” Kakkar told ANI.
Drawing a comparison to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, Kakkar said that if agencies could detain AAP leaders “without proof or sanction,” then there was no justification for the absence of arrests in the National Herald case.
“You arrested Arvind Kejriwal illegally, without any evidence. Even the court has criticized ED and CBI. So why hasn’t a single Congress leader been arrested?” she asked.
On April 12, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated action to seize assets worth Rs 661 crore belonging to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL). Notices were issued to property registrars in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and its associated rules.
The ED conducted searches at multiple locations and claimed to have found incriminating documents related to suspected money laundering. Sources say the investigation revealed that Young Indian, a private company linked to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, acquired AJL properties valued at Rs 2000 crore for just Rs 50 lakh, raising questions about significant undervaluation.
Responding to the ED’s action, Congress dismissed the case as politically motivated. Former Union Minister and Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal said the government is misusing the PMLA to suppress political dissent.
“This case under PMLA against the National Herald is baseless. The Modi government is trying to crush political opponents and misuse legal provisions. PMLA doesn’t apply to this case,” Bansal stated.